By Ogar Monday
Peter Akpanke, the rep-elect of Obudu, Bekwarra, Obanliku Federal Constituency has thanked Legor Idagbo, his opponent at the February polls for “the wisdom, political maturity, and the spirit of sportsmanship he has displayed as genuinely manifested in his withdrawal of the earlier petition against my election on 25/02/2023, from the Election Petitions Tribunal.”
Akpanka said Legor’s decision showed that he has the interest of the people at heart and that “God in his infinite goodness, continues to bless and reward him abundantly in his strides.
“I wholeheartedly pledge to represent Obudu, Bekwarra, Obanliku Federal Constituency with unblemished commitment, and hereby appeal for their cooperation and support, so that we may be enabled to navigate our cherished Federal Constituency to the next positive and laudable level.”
But responding to the news of the withdrawal of the petition from the tribunal, the media team of the lawmaker insisted that Legor never initiated any case in the tribunal and could not have withdrawn what he never initiated.
The statement signed by Emmanuel Etim, his Head of Media, read: “The attention of Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo media has been drawn to document and information making the rounds in the media of our principal withdrawing his petition from the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal.
“Once again we say without equivocation that our principal did not file any petition at the tribunal and so cannot be withdrawing a petition he did not file.
“Members of the public are advised to disregard the information, please. Our principal will remain focused on his duties and responsibilities to constituents till the end of his tenure in the House of Representatives.”