A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, Wednesday withdrew his suit challenging the election of Ben Murray-Bruce as Senator for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.
Chairman of the Bayelsa National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Ononeze Madu, announced the withdrawal on Wednesday.
Sylva is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Murray-Bruce belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Counsel to Sylva, Sydney Ibanichuka, said the withdrawal was for the interest of peace.
“The reason for the withdrawal is best known to the petitioners, but they have agreed to withdraw for the interest of peace in Bayelsa and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Murray-Bruce’s Counsel, Duro Adeyele, SAN, who commended Sylva for withdrawing the suit, added that it was for the best interest of the people.
“We have gone through pre-hearing and today being July 1, the petition has been withdrawn,” Adeyele said.
Sylva had approached the tribunal to declare Murray-Bruce unqualified to contest the National Assembly election over alleged dual citizenship and irregularities carried out by the PDP and its agents during the election in Brass and other parts of the district.
