The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Frank Nweke Jr, who garnered 17,983 votes to come third in the March 18 governorship election was in the tribunal challenging the outcome of the process.

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However, during the proceedings on Sunday, Nweke’s counsel, Prof. R.A.C.E Achara, addressed the tribunal and expressed the former Minister’s intention to make an oral application to withdraw the petition, identified as EPTEN/GOV/07/2023, from the court.

Achara stated, “My lords, as instructed by my client, I wish to make an oral application before the honorable tribunal to withdraw the petition filed against the first, second, and third respondents in this matter so that we will no longer be wasting the time of the court, as we were not able to gather the evidence that will help in prosecuting the matter.”

Responding to the petitioner’s application, the first, second, and third respondents informed the court that they had no objections to Nweke’s withdrawal.

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Consequently, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice M. K Akano, ruled to strike out the petition. “The petition before the tribunal with suit number EPTEN/GOV/07/2023 is hereby withdrawn,” the tribunal declared.

Confirming the withdrawal, Nweke Jr., who was a minister during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said he decided to withdraw the petition against Mbah for personal reasons.