The lawyer responsible for the filing, Oluseyi Oyagbile, confirmed on Tuesday that he discontinued the case following fresh instructions from party leadership and his clients. The withdrawal comes in the wake of an internal dispute within the party; another legal faction headed by Abiodun Layonu (SAN) had previously distanced itself from the lawsuit, asserting that neither the party nor its standard-bearer, Bola Oyebamiji, authorized a challenge against the August 15 election outcome.

Oyagbile noted that before officially dropping the suit, he requested formal directives via WhatsApp from party leaders to clear up any ambiguity and prevent further friction. Two separate petitions—one attributed to the APC and another to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—had surfaced on the tribunal’s notice board on Monday, both of which initially faced denials regarding their authorization from the respective parties. With the APC’s petition now dismissed, the ongoing legal scrutiny over the election rests on the remaining petition.

The human rights activist emphasized that such acts have no place in a true democracy, asserting that every presidential candidate must retain the right to campaign freely and travel across the nation without facing threats or physical harm. Furthermore, Sowore cautioned that permitting these attacks to persist could endanger the broader democratic rights of all Nigerians.

In his official statement, Sowore wrote:

“I have watched videos showing what appears to be a state-sponsored blockade and attack on NDC presidential candidate @PeterObi as he attempted to enter the state capital to carry out legitimate campaign activities. I strongly condemn these acts of political brigandage by agents of the state government and the Tinubu regime. This is totally unacceptable. No candidate should be prevented through violence, intimidation or state-sponsored thuggery from campaigning freely anywhere in Nigeria. Those behind these cowardly attacks are toying with fire and threatening the democratic rights of all Nigerians. They must desist immediately before it is too late.”

According to the commissioner, this lack of prior notice made it impossible for the government to take full responsibility or guarantee adequate security for Obi and his entourage, noting that the politician has repeatedly neglected to follow proper protocol during past visits.

Iorpev remarked:

“A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government. We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety. This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people. So, if they were coming from either Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha or Vandeikya at the same time of his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that.”