Tribunal strikes out NCP’s plea against candidate’s petition

The Bayelsa State election petition tribunal sitting in Yenagoa, yesterday struck out the plea of the National Conscience Party (NCP) to quash the case filed by its flag bearer, Chief Angbapu Dekite, against his exclusion from the March 28 National Assembly election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State.

The Chairman of the NCP in Bayelsa State, Mr. Lucky Akpeli, had in a counter suit filed before the tribunal sought an order to discontinue the petition filed by the Party’s candidate, Chief Angbapu Dekite against the INEC and the eventual winner of the National Assembly election in Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Lucky Akpeli ,in his counter application, had claimed that the petitioner had joined the NCP in the suit filed against INEC and Senator Paulker without the knowledge of the Party and its leadership.

But the Chairperson of the Tribunal, Justice C.A. Ononoeze Madu, said though the NCP through Lucky Akpeli, as second petitioner, has the right to seek for the withdrawal from the case as provided under the electoral act, the evidence produced by the petitioner, the flag bearer of the NCP, Chief Angbapu Dekite showed that Lucky Akpeli, was aware of the petition and deposed to an affidavit in the brief handed the Counsel, Chuks Odulonu to file the petition. Justice Madu wondered why the NCP, was blowing hot and cold on the petition filed by the Party’s candidate.

Justice Madu ruled that under the provision of the Electoral Act, a candidate can file a petition with or without the Party, “it is not of law that the candidate must file in conjunction with the political party. The hereby strikes out the 2nd petitioner claim on withdrawal of the petition.”