The Abia State Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia on Monday struck out the petition filed by John Azubuike and his party, AA, upon a motion for withdrawal of the petition filed by the petitioners in petition No. EPT/AB/SEN/1/2023: John Azubuike & ANOR v INEC & 2 ORS.
The petition is against Chief Orji Kalu following his emergence as the winner of Abia North Senatorial District election.
Kalu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, had in the National Assembly election held on February 25, 2023 defeated Nnamdi Orji of the Labour Party and Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party to get re-elected into the Senate.
The petition was struck out by the Tribunal after hearing counsel for the petitioners, Kalu Kalu Agu, and counsels for the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, Udo Uduma and Victor Etie respectively.
In response, Uduma commended the petitioners for their nobility in conceding defeat and congratulating the legitimate winner of the election.
He called on Ohuabunwa and Orji to toe the path of honour, concede defeat and congratulate Kalu who was duly elected and returned by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
