Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has said he will withdraw his petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the state governor-elect, Siminalaye Fubara, from the Election Petitions Tribunal.
Abe, who made the announcement yesterday when he addressed SDP stakeholders at Freedom House, in Port Harcourt, said his decision was personal and not binding on any other member of the party.
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He said, “The interest of our state has always been and will remain paramount to me. We cannot at any state of our politics put our own interest above the interest of those who have sacrificed so much to follow us.
“We cannot at any stage of politics put what we call our ego above every other consideration in our state. We must learn as politicians to be pragmatic and put the interest of Rivers State and her people above every other interests.
“Having taken a very clear review of the situations in the state and what is happening in the state, I have decided, in consultation with the party both at the national and at the state, that I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, will withdraw my petition at the Election Petitions Tribunal in the interest of those who have suffered and sacrificed in support of our cause.
“More importantly, in the interest of our state so that we begin to reduce the bickering and confusion that is in our state, in order to give all of us opportunity to be able to move forward with our lives.
“I take this decision very conscious of the pain, of the trauma and of the confusion it will bring to all of you.”
Abe denied allegations by the state government that he was demarketing Rivers in anticipation of a federal government’s appointment.
He said, “When I was away, I was sent newspaper copies of a story credited to the Rivers State government to the effect that I, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe was going round demarketing Rivers State for an appointment. We know those who are looking for appointments. We know those who are pushing people aside.”