The senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State, Jimoh Ibrahim, on Tuesday, withdrew the lawsuit he filed to challenge the emergence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the November 16 governorship poll.
Aiyedatiwa defeated Ibrahim and 14 other aspirants to emerge the winner of the April 20 APC governorship primary in Ondo State.
Despite entreaties by the party leadership, Aiyedatiwa, who alleged manipulation of the exercise, had filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order nullifying Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy and conducting a fresh poll.
In response to the prayer of the APC, which was joined as a party in the lawsuit, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, on Monday, ordered the transfer of the suit from Abuja to the Akure division of the court.
However, in a twist on Tuesday, Ibrahim made a U-turn, withdrawing the suit.
He announced his decision in a statement titled “Presidential intervention and notice of withdrawal Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/588/2024.”
The senator said, “The suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. 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 I 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 emphasised his commitment to internal democracy over and over again. Thank you, Mr. President.”
Ibrahim said his action was a gift to mark Tinubu’s first anniversary in office as President.
“The withdrawal of this legendary suit is concise with the first anniversary of Mr. President’s incredible performance in office, and this is my gift of the ‘cake’ of the first anniversary! Thank you all for your support,” he said.
Reacting to the development, the Director of Contact and Engagement for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation, Mr Maridoti Oludare, described Ibrahim’s action as a good development for the party.
Oladare said, “On behalf of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign, I would like to acknowledge the decision by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to withdraw his case against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, challenging the outcome of the April 20, 2024 primary elections in Ondo state.
“We recognise the wisdom he has shown in taking the off-ramp given to him by the governor, party leaders, and ultimately the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We look forward to continuing our work to build a stronger, more inclusive, and forward-thinking Ondo State under the capable leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Let this moment serve as a reminder of the power of unity and the importance of embracing the future with an open heart and a clear vision.”
In the same vein, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Solders, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Kayode Fasua, said, “Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has just proved that he has good regards for the instrument of dialogue to resolve resolvable disputes as against burdening the judiciary. His consent to the intervention of Mr. President, and that of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa itself, is welcome.
“As a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Ondo South Senatorial District, he is commended for a proper rumination of his earlier decision to take his party, the APC, and Mr. Governor to court, having sat over the scenario and given vent to a peaceful resolution. Together, we move to work together for the people of Ondo State and seek the voters’ mandate of a four-year service, come November 16, this year.”
