Atiku denies approving withdrawal of petition in Rivers

26.11.2007

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied claims that he approved the withdrawal of the petition by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate challenging the April 14 governorship election in Rivers State.

In a statement from his Campaign Media Office, Abubakar said it was inconceivable that he would endorse the withdrawal of the petition when he was insisting on pursuing his own petition against the April 21 presidential election.

The governorship candidate of the AC in the state, Prince Tonye Princewill, had announced the withdrawal of his petition before the state election petition tribunal.

He had claimed in a press statement that he consulted leaders of the party, including the former vice president, before withdrawing from the case.

However, Alhaji Abubakar said when Princewill raised the matter with him during his visit to Yola two weeks ago, he advised him against such a move.

“I told him that in politics, you have to be known for something, that a politician should be principled and known to be defending a rightful cause.

“I told him that this was why I am pursuing my petition before the presidential election petition tribunal. “I told him that since he believed just as the AC, that there was no election in Rivers State on April 14, the right thing for him is to pursue the petition before the tribunal.

“I have also taken time to talk to other party elders that Prince Princewill claimed they advised him to withdraw the case, including former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They have all denied giving such advice.”