Tribunal reserves judgment on 6 Plateau Assembly seats as parties adopt final written address
By Daniel Agada, Jos
Plateau State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos High Court Division, has reserved judgments on six (6) constituency seats in the state.
Parties in the petitions having adopted their final written address Tuesday, a three man panel of the Tribunal lead by Justice Williams Olamide adjourned to the judgment day which will be communicated to parties when ready.
The 6 Plateau State Assembly seats awaiting Tribunal decision are; Mangu North State Constituency, suit No:EPT/PL/SHA/10/2023, between Adamu Abdul Yanga,APC (Petitioners) against INEC (1st respondent), Sank Abubakar Idris and PDP (2nd and 3rd respondents).
Others includes,Barkin Ladi constituency in suit No:EPT/PL/SHA/12/2023, between Yusuf Dickson Chollom,APC (Petitioners) versus INEC, Jwe Philip Gwom and PDP (1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents), Jos South Constituency suit No:EPT/PL/SHA/02/2023, between Dalyop Isaac Gyang, APC as petitioners against INEC, Gwottson Dalyop Fom and PDP as Respondents.
Also Mangu South Constituency suit No: EPT/PL/SHA/13/2023, between APC against INEC, Bala Fwangji and PDP, Pankshin South Constituency suit No: EPT/PL/SHA/06/2023, between Laven Denty Jacob, APC against INEC, Mrs Salome Wanglek Taninu and PDP as well as Qua’an-Pan South constituency suit No:EPT/PL/SHA/16/2023 between Prof. Theodore Maiyaki Bala SAN, APC versus INEC, Cornelius Doeyok and PDP respectively.
While adumbrating their position before the Tribunal, the petitioners prayed the Court to grant all its reliefs sought, particularly ground one of the petitions.
Our correspondent learned that, ground one which the petitioners are holding into as the major determined factor in their petitions before the Tribunal, stipulated that as of 18th March, 2023, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections,PDP in Plateau doesn’t have a valid structure to warrant them nomination and sponsorship of candidate in the said election.
According to petitioners, “PDP are in disobedience of court order, we urged the Tribunal to declared the return of the 2nd and 3rd respondents in Mangu North, Mangu South, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Pankshin South and Qua’an-Pan South State Constituencies in Plateau by the 1st respondent (INEC) as nullity and voided, and to grant petitioners prayers.”
However, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents described the Petitioners petition as vexatious, unwarranted, lacking in merit and proof.
“We urged your Lordships to dismissed the petitioners claimed in its entirety with a heavy cost for lacking in merit and proof”, the respondents maintain.
