A group refered to as the ‘Forum of Former Youths Leaders (Veterans) in Plateau State’ has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) as well as Anti-graft Agencies to investigate the matter for any external or pecuniary motivations that have probably informed some of the decisions of Elections Petition Tribunal in Plateau State.
The group also urged that Justices and Lawyers be made to attend retreats to further sharpen, strengthen and improve their understanding of the law before the commencement of any Tribunal case.
The group made this know during a World Press Conference they addressed at the fully packed out Azi Nyako Youth Center Dadin Kowa, Jos on Monday 18th September 202. The Chairman, Mr Yakubu Ibrahim Itse read the press text on behalf of the group in collaboration with representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim Youths and other groups who were present.
The group was reacting to the recent judgement by the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal presided over by Justice M. B Tukur which nullified the elections of Senator Napoleon Bali, Hon Beni Lar, Hon Peter Gyengdeng and Hon Dachung Musa Bagos who were recently elected to the National Assembly on the grounds that their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had no structure to sponsor any candidate in the just concluded 2023 General Elections.
The group said that their action was necessary in order to address “…the disturbing issues that threatens our nascent democracy and our survival as a people on the Plateau”.
“We the Veterans and well-meaning Plateau people wish to express our worries and concerns on the unprofessional and contradictory judgements of the Presidential Tribunal of the corresponding jurisdiction in respect of Plateau State Senatorial and House of Representatives elections against the weight of evidence and the rule of law”. They said.
“You may recall that the Tribunal began delivering Judgements over the past three weeks, which we however witnessed with utter shock and dismay, the conflicting judgements of the representatives of the state at the National Assembly”, they added.
They noted that “Having confirmed the validity of the PDP’s structure as evidenced by the plethora of earlier court judgements that PDP had complied with the Judgements of Justice Gang and Kunda and; in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), Electoral Act 2022 as well as chapter 8 of the PDP Constitution, the tribunal, in the cases between Sen. Simon Mwadkon Vs others; Hon Musa A. Agah Vs others, the professional judgement of the tribunal is resounding and commendable”.
“In similar professional ruling in the case of Hon Isaac Kwallu vs others, the tribunal maintained similar cultured stance which particularly have laid to rest the question of whether or not PDP has a structure. The tribunal in these cases unequivocally rules that nomination and sponsorship of candidates for elections, was the singular duty of the Party and that the procedure of contesting such nomination was limited to, only members of that party, which must be through a Federal High Court”. they continued.
They went further to state that “We assert that for Justice Tukur to singly contradict his learned colleagues who had earlier upheld the elections of Sen. Simon Mwadkon, Hon. Musa A. Agah and Hon Isac Kwallu on the same grounds tantamount to sowing a seed of discord and chaos in the State.
They noted additionally that “While we respect the sanctity of the Nigerian Judiciary, we nevertheless are perturbed about this recent judicial debacle that is capable of setting the State in a needless strife. This development is awfully troubling to us”.
They urged the Appeal court to restore back the duly elected members of the PDP which have been upturned by Justice M. B Tukur at the tribunal.
Nigeria Star News 