2023 Election: Ibrahim Ajia Withdraws Case Against APC, INEC at Tribunal
The Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Representatives candidate for Asa/Ilorin-west Federal Constituency in the February 25, 2023 election, Alhaji Ibrahim Ajia, said he has withdrawn his petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and All Progressive Congress APC from the election tribunal.
Ajia stated that the decision to move on was in the best interest of the electorates.
He added that though he encountered serious difficulties in reclaiming his mandate, he remained undeterred but his belief as a Muslim that power belongs to Allah especially in the season of Ramadan, his immediate family’s concerns about unending legal battle as well as the need to avoid being a distraction to the purported winner of the election has forced him to take the decision.
He promised to continue to make life more meaningful for his constituents through his Foundation and also hold government accountable for the people.
The candidate disclosed this in a letter he wrote to his constituents titled RE: MY OFFER TO SERVE: TIME TO MOVE ON released on Friday by his Director of Communications, Mallam Abdulrahman Aliagan.
The statement read in part, “I have deeply reflected on one of the lessons of Ramadan which is the spirit of forgiveness, and wish to discontinue the legal process we have instituted at the tribunal, against our opponent, APC and INEC.
“It is unfortunate that the result declared by the INEC was neither the will nor expectations of our people.
From the foregoing, we can see clear signs of collusion between INEC, APC and perhaps other authorities we may not know.
My immediate family has also expressed worries about the diminishing possibility of an impartial legal process and urged me to let it go.
“As a progressive politician, my utmost desire is for our people to be served and represented effectively. I therefore wouldn’t want to create excuses for the purportedly declared winner by INEC that he was distracted by the legal contest when he fails.
“However, we will not be deterred by this temporary setback in pursuing our set goals of making life more meaningful for our people. This we will continue to do through our Foundation and other engagements with various organisations and institutions we have contacts with. We will hold the government at all levels accountable to ensure that our people are not shortchanged in any way.”
