Breaking News: Udoedehe Withdraws Suit Against Umana

A former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John Akpan Udoedehe, has withdrawn the suit he instituted at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the emergence of Obong Umanah Okon Umanah as the governorship candidate of the party in the April 11, 2015 election.

Senator Udoedehe premised his decision on the judgment of the Supreme Court upholding the election of Governor Udom Emmanuel as winner of the said election.

In a letter of withdrawal, he explained thus “As a consequence of that ruling, I have consulted with my legal team and I have been informed (even though I also know it myself) that going ahead with the pre-election matter I instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, to right the wrongs of the said primary election will now amount to an academic exercise. Though, we can pursue the case to make a point, however, that point will be completely useless.

“Had the Supreme Court ordered for a re-election, we would have continued our matter in court and we have no doubt that the courts would have righted the injustice meted out to us via a bad and faulty primary. That would have given life to our case. But, pursuing it now will be egocentric and utterly senseless.

“The kernel of my message is to thank the almighty God and you the people of Akwa Ibom State, especially the steadfast supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who stood by me in the face of blackmail, betrayal and backstabbing by a section of our party.

“This has really given us the energy to be part of what we have been doing and will continue to do. I want you all to remain in the party that we built. No stranger can push us out of our party; rather the events of the recent past will make us stronger. We have proven that though they may knock us down, God has endowed us with the ability to get up again and again.

“Having said that, I don’t want us – the APC members in Akwa Ibom State – to deceive ourselves by believing the rumours that have been making the rounds to the effect that the Supreme Court will review its judgment concerning the governorship position in Akwa Ibom State.

“The Supreme Court, which is the last court in the land, has given its judgment and that is final. We should accept this reality and move on. The only thing left for us now is the future. We have to harmonise and come together to rebuild the party, and re-strategise on how we can wrest power from the opposition party in the state in the nearest future.

“This is the time for all true progressives to re-group and make our party stronger. Those who joined the APC from other parties have realised that the real opposition, the progressives, are very resilient people, and my word for them is to bury everything and come together to make APC a strong, credible and responsible opposition to the ruling party in the state.”