The Plateau North Senatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) and the immediate past Secretary to the Government of
Plateau State, Hon. Rufus Bature on Thursday formally withdrew his
petition challenging the victory of Senator Istifanus Gyang and the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the National and State Houses of
Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, the State capital.
Senator Gyang who succeeded Senator Jonah Jang, was elected to
represents Plateau North under the platform of the main opposition PDP.
Hon. Bature through his Counsel M.S Salihu Esq, filed a motion for the withdrawal of the petition.
Salihu told the Tribunal that the prosecution of the petition would be a further waste of time.
Meantime, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice T.N Nzeukwu, granted the
motion and dismissed the petition before the tribunal, since there was
no objection over the application for the withdrawal from the
respondents, (Senator Gyang, PDP and INEC).
Also, Sen. Gyang’s legal team, H. N. Uguawala Esq and Niri Darong Esq, expressed satisfaction with the withdrawal.
You would recall that the Tribunal had earlier fixed Nine (9) days for the trial of the petition.
It would be recalled that Hon. Bature had earlier challenged the
declaration of the Senator representing Plateau North, Sen. Gyang as
winner even when he won with a wide margin of over 90,000 votes.
Reacting to the development, Senator Istifanus Gyang described it as
the will of God for him to served the people of Plateau North Senatorial
District and reaffirmed his determination to uphold and deliver on the
mandate given to him by the people of the zone.