3rd July, 2015
Reuben Bojor/Calabar
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, southern Nigeria, has dismissed a petition filed by Mr. Fidelis Ugbo, candidate of the Labour Party, LP, against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate in the 11 April governorship election, Senator Ben Ayade.
The Labour Party and its candidate, Mr Fidelis Ugbo, pleaded with the tribunal to nullify the governorship election, stating that it was marred by irregularities.
The matter which was presided over by Justice Aliyu Muhammed Mayaki held in the Federal High Court, Calabar, Justice Mayaki who gave the ruling said, the case lacked merit and substance.
Earlier on, the Labour Party and its candidate had told the tribunal that it was withdrawing its case against the PDP and so it should be struck out.
Speaking, the PDP state Secretary, Mr. Godwin Ettah, applauded the court’s decision and thanked the petitioner for the earlier step taken and urged them to join the Governor Ayade train of progress for the good of Cross River State.
“I want to thank the court for the decision and will appeal to the petitioners to join hands with the governor to build Cross River State,” he said.