Ebonyi State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abakaliki Thursday struck out the Labour Party (LP) from the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Edward Nkwegu in the April 11 governorship election.
The National Legal Adviser of the party, Samuel Akingbade had told the tribunal through a motion that Nkwegu’s petition challenging the election of Chief Dave Umahi declared winner by INEC did not receive the consent of the Labour Party and as such should be withdrawn from the petition which it described as fraudulent petition.
The National Legal Adviser in another motion urged the tribunal to stop agents of the Labour Party from appearing for Chief Nkwegu on the ground that they are members of the Labour Party.
Ruling on the two motions, the Chairman of the governorship petition tribunal, Justice Theresa Igoche struck out the Labour Party from the petition and dismissed the motion seeking to stop the first petitioner’s witnesses from appearing for him in the petition for lacking in merit.
The tribunal refused list of 46 additional witnesses which Chief Nkwegu sort to add to the list of his witnesses in the petition and agreed with respondents in the petition that granting the request will amount to amending the entire petition.
Counsel to Chief Nkwegu, Chuma Ajaegbu accused the Labour Party of conspiring with the respondents in the petition to frustrate the petition, adding that the party had canvassed for votes with Nkwegu during the election and that the National Legal Adviser accompanied the petitioner to file his petition in the tribunal only to suddenly withdrew from the petition, describing it as sabotage and conspiracy.
He said the withdrawal of the Labour Party from the petition will not affect the petition.
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