Janet samuel, Abuja
The Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, has withdrawn the suit filed against the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on alleged irregularities in the governorship primary conducted last month owing to Presidential intervention.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Senator Ibrahim attributed the withdrawal of the suit to the series of interventions made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on phone and physical meeting held with him at the Aso Rock Villa which lasted for over an hour.
Senator Jimoh had after the conduct of the APC primary election held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 across the 18 local government councils in Ondo State, had slammed litigations on the APC, Governor Aiyedatiwa (who was declared as winner) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the litigation was not about himself but for the sole purpose of ensuring internal party democracy which he alleged was bastardized in the APC governorship primary election conducted across the 18 local government councils and 203 wards in Ondo State by an electoral panel headed by Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State.
However, two weeks after the litigation, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a Lawmaker representing Ondo South Senatorial District, announced to journalists that he was withdrawing the case as a mark of respect for President Tinubu.
He said: “The suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President called me, had a meeting with me, and assured me that he will as the leader of the party improve on internal democracy within our party, and I will need to withdraw the case to enable him to chart a way forward.
“The Governor of Ondo State Lucky Aiyedatiwa earlier visited my Asokoro residence for several hours after another unsuccessful visit to my hotel room in Akure.
“I cannot disobey the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the issue am fighting for is not personal. It is simply to improve internal democracy to which the President has promised improvement. My respect for the President is absolute.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank Mr. President for the words of wisdom and encouragement during my meeting with him which lasted over one hour and his various interactions with me on the telephone during which he emphasized his commitment to internal democracy over and over again.
“The withdrawal of this suit is concise with the first anniversary of Mr. President’s incredible performance in office, and this is my gift of the first anniversary.”
