Tribunal Dismisses Factional HDP’s Bid To Withdraw Petition Against Buhari

The presidential election petition tribunal has dismissed the application filed by a factional chairman of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Mr Poland Tambre seeking to expunge the name of HDP as a party in the petition challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The presidential election petition tribunal has dismissed the application filed by a factional chairman of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Mr Poland Tambre seeking to expunge the name of HDP as a party in the petition challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The five-man tribunal panel headed Justice Muhammed Garba in its ruling held that the applicant did not swear to an affidavit challenging the averment by Mr Ambrose Oworu on the recognised leadership of the HDP neither is there any evidence before the court showing that the leadership of the party led by Mr Oworu is been questioned in any competent court of law.

The tribunal also held that even though it is not expressly written, it is a political party that participates in an election and it is therefore expected that if there is any cause of action against an election the party is a co-petitioner in that matter.

And by the provisions of the evidence act where there is no challenge to facts deposed to by an opposing party in a suit that fact can be deemed to be true.

As such the application by Mister Poland Tampre that the name of HDP be expunged from the petition fails and is dismissed.

The pretrial hearing in the petition of the HDP has been adjourned to the 2nd of July to enable INEC which is the first respondent respond to a counter affidavit filed by the HDP against INEC challenging its application seeking to dismiss the petition of the HDP against the election of President Buhari.