Makarfi-led PDP withdraws appeal against Akwa Ibom senator's sack

Makarfi-led PDP withdraws appeal against Akwa Ibom senator's sack

- The Peoples Democratic Party has withdrawn its appeal calling for the sack of an Akwa Ibom senator

- The PDP led by Ahmed Makarfi has asked the Court of Appeal to dismiss its appeal against the Federal High Court, Uyo

- The party said the appeal was not necessary and should not have been filed in the first place

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar to dismiss its appeal against a Federal High Court, Uyo judgement sacking the senator representing Akwa Ibom Northeast senatorial district.

The PDP said the judgment of the Federal High Court which sacked Albert Akpan and declared Bassey Etim as his lawful replacement was not in its interest.

The party said the appeal was not necessary and ought not to have been filed in the first place.

READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB have brought shame, distrust to us all - Governor Okorocha reveals how

In its notice for the dismissal of the appeal, the party said, the PDP is withdrawing all the process before the court.

PDP said in its notice: "Take notice that the appellant (PDP) hereby withdraws all the processes, including the notice of appeal and the brief of argument filed by the erstwhile counsel for the party.”

The party's decision to withdraw its appeal, Legit.ng gathered, is in line with an ongoing reconciliation between PDP members ahead of the 2019 elections.

READ ALSO: Another container of 475 pump-action rifles allegedly uncovered in Lagos port

It was also gathered a United Nations human rights and election monitoring group, the Peoples Right to Life Development Foundation (PELDEF) commended the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee over the withdrawal of the appeal.

The group said the move by the party could help promote internal democracy and also depicts respect for the rule of law and court judgement.

“We must commend Senator Makarfi-led PDP Caretaker Committee for taking this positive step in withdrawing the appeal filed by the party against Etim, who the court declared the winner of 2015 Akwa Ibom North East senatorial district.

“Both Akpan and Bassey are members of PDP family. It was expected that PDP should not have filed such appeal in a matter between two members, especially after the court had entered its pronouncements on issues submitted before it," the group added.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app

Legit.ng earlier reported that a United States of America rights group were in Nigeria on a fact-finding mission on the failure of the Nigerian Senate to swear Senator Bassey Etim as ordered by the court.

The group also accused the Senate President Bukola Saraki of committing 'blatant abuse of power' in the matter.

The group had also promised to take necessary steps to ensure a redress for the 'abnormally'.

You can watch this Legit.ng video of Nigerians reacting to scrapping of the Senate:

Source: Legit.ng

Online view pixel