Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator representing Ondo South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Jimoh Ibrahim, has withdrawn his case challenging the primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress which produced governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the party’s candidate. 

Mr Ibrahim, who also participated in the April 20 exercise, made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

The Ondo senator said the decision came after President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

“The suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” the statement read in part. 

However, the development is coming barely a day after Ebenezer Adeniyan, the spokesperson for Mr Aiyedatiwa accused Mr Ibrahim of “grandstanding and wanting to destroy the party” for challenging the primary in court. 

Recall that the senator joined Mr Aiyedatiwa and 14 other contestants to contest the APC ticket in the April 20 governorship primary. 

However, he lost the exercise to Mr Aiyedatiwa and immediately headed to the federal court to challenge the process. 

Mr Ibrahim had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the nullification of the poll which produced Mr Aiyedatiwa, as the APC’s candidate.

He had in a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/588/2024 urged the court to cancel the shadow election and stop Mr Aiyedatiwa from parading himself as the candidate of the APC for the November governorship election.

He also asked the court to exclude the party from participating in the governorship election unless a fresh primary was held, describing the first exercise as a “mega fraud.”

Noting further in his statement, Mr Ibrahim said that he was called by Mr Tinubu, who he said asked him to withdraw the case in court against Mr Aiyedatiwa. 

He stated that Mr Aiyedatiwa had earlier made an unsuccessful truce with him after the primary by visiting his residence in Abuja and hotel rooms in Akure. 

“The President called me, had a meeting with me, and assured me that he will as the leader of the party improve on internal democracy within our party and I will need to withdraw the case to enable him to chart a way forward. The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, earlier visited my Asokoro residence for several hours after another unsuccessful visit to my hotel room in Akure,” he said. 

Noting that he had heeded the call of the President, Mr Ibrahim said he was not fighting a personal battle but wanted an improvement on the party’s internal democracy. 

He, however, added that Mr Tinubu had already promised to weigh in on the matter and also see to the internal wrangling in the ruling party. 

He said, “I cannot disobey the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the issue I am fighting for is not personal. It is simply to improve internal democracy to which the President has promised improvement. My respect for the President is absolute!

“Let me use this opportunity to thank Mr President for the words of wisdom and encouragement during my meeting with him which lasted over one hour and his various interactions with me on the telephone during which he emphasized his commitment to internal democracy over and over again. Thank you, Mr. President. The withdrawal of this legendary suit coincides with the first anniversary of Mr President’s incredible performance in office, and this is my gift of the “cake” of the first anniversary! Thank you all for your support.”