Frank Nweke Jr., the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State, has officially withdrawn his petition against Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This decision comes after Nweke secured the third position in the March 18 election, receiving 17,983 votes compared to Mbah’s 160,895 votes. The withdrawal of the petition was announced by Nweke’s legal representative, R.A.C.E Achara, during a session at the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Sunday.
Achara stated that the withdrawal was necessary to alleviate the workload of the tribunal. Recognizing this request, the tribunal granted the withdrawal and subsequently dismissed the petition. Nweke Jr., who had previously served as a minister in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, confirmed the decision to withdraw the petition, citing personal reasons.
The withdrawal of the petition by Nweke marks a significant development in the post-election landscape of Enugu State. It demonstrates a decision by the APGA candidate to discontinue his legal challenge against Governor Mbah’s victory. The reasons for Nweke’s withdrawal have not been explicitly disclosed, leaving room for speculation among political observers.
With the petition dismissed, Peter Mbah’s contentious victory in the March 18 election stands challenged by Edeoga of LP.