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By Raymond Gukas, Jos
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Plateau state has objected in it’s entirety, the judgement quashing the victories of its national Assembly members in the recently concluded general elections.
According to its state Chairman, Hon. Chris Hassan, the judgement of the Plateau state Electoral Tribunal falls short of the peoples mandate and as such, an appeal shall be instituted to reclaim the wish of the people.
It is recalled that the Labour Party, (LP) and the All Progressives Congress, (APC), had approached the Tribunal seeking declaratory Reliefs that the PDP was not Qualified to Sponsor its Candidates because it has no structure to do that.
The internal crisis within the party upon whcih the tribunal relied on to declare that Hon Peter Gyendeng PDP Barkin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency and AVM Napoleon Bali (rtd) PDP and senatorial candidate of the southern zone were not qualified to contest the election, did not take the substance of the case before passing judgment.
However, the PDP chairman said the party had since complied with the earlier judgment of Justice S P Gang of tje state high court to repeat it’s congress of September 2021 which was dine and dutifully monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) as required by law.
He said, “This same congress was affirmed by the federal High court Jos in a judgment delivered by Hon Justice D. V . Agishi in the case of one Augustine Timkuk vs PDP validating the State Executive of the Party as duly elected.
“This same judgment was also unanimously affirmed by the court of Appeal Jos in favour of the PDP by Hon TY Hassan, Hon Justice I. A. Andenyangtso and Hon Justice O O Goodluck delivered on 11th February 2023”, the Chairman said.
He added that the fact remained that the PDP has a valid and solid structure through which its mandate was given adding that they were are optimistic that by the special grace of God Almighty it will stand because same position was affirmed by the 7 Judgments of panel two(2) of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which is a sister panel to panel one(1)
“we take great pains to tell you that the decision of the tribunal on this matter utterly falls far short of expectation.
“we are here to tell you that, the judgments of the tribunal yesterday is a judgment that we refuse to accept because it is bereft of substantial justice and a diversion of the undiluted will and choices of the Plateau people in the light of the consolidated judgements recently delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court in the Presidential Petition which is not far from the petitions here at the Tribunal.
“It is noteworthy that as we register our disappointment in the verdict of the Tribunal, it can never destroy our confidence in the judiciary.
“Consequently, we have asked our lawyers to take the mandate of the plateau people as their right of appeal to the Court of Appeal to reflect the wishes of the electorate.
“Because the will of the people “as freely expressed by electing Senator Napoleon Bali and Hon Peter Gyendeng must be respected.
“As law-abiding Party, we will explore all available legal means to restore the victory of the PDP back.”
In the light of the above, the PDP Chairman urged Party stakeholders, supporters and indeed the people of plateau state to be calm and be on alert and continue to support the Distinguished Senator, Hon Member and the party, as there is no cause for alarm.
“These judgments are just temporary setbacks, legal machineries have been set in motion to reclaim our mandate as we restate our confidence in the institution of the judiciary to dispense justice in this matter at the Appellate Court”, he said.
