Justice to Plateau is not optional, but a necessity, says youth-veterans as Appeal Tribunal verdict deepens
By Daniel Agada, Jos
A group, known as the forum of former leaders (veterans) across the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State have stated that justice to Plateau is not optional, but a necessity.
The forum said as a lovers of democracy, they were worried and concern over the ongoing delivery of judgments which has created uncertainties, fears, doubts and apprehension in the political landscape of Plateau state.
Addressing reporters on Monday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Jos the state capital, leader of the forum, Yakubu Itse stated that justice has to be tandem with the will of the people in order to guarantee peace, justice and equity.
Recall, the Appellate Court sitting in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has nullified the elections of Senate minority leader, Simon Mwadkon, member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal constituency, Musa Agah on the ground of non qualification and ordered for a rerun election.And also member representing Qua’an-Pan/Shendam/Mikang Federal Constituency, Isaac Kwallu.
Forum of former Plateau youth leaders said the law is clear and unequivocal about the key issues under contention.
“It is appalling and ridiculous to hear appellants arguing that they are not challenging the nominations, only sponsorship. What is the difference? We are aware of the position of the Apex court of the land-Supreme Court, in Jegede vs INEC which said they are the same thing.
“Therefore, by virtue of chapter 8 and section 50(1) of the PDP constitution, only the National Working Committee of the PDP is vested with the sole right of sponsoring and nominating candidates to any political position from word to National level.
“The case of Atiku Abubakar vs Kashim Shettima becomes very instructive. Justice Jauro of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja agreed with Lateef Fagbemi SAN, that no matter how pained the PDP is, it must remain an onlooker. They further stated that the PDP is poke nosing into the affairs of another party which makes them meddlesome interlopers and busy bodies.
“The Court of Appeal that sat in Abuja today led by Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme in the case of Tarfaya Asarya of the APC, challenging the nomination, qualification and sponsorship of Dr. Midala Bulami of the PDP and also challenging Supreme Court order by PDP in Borno state. The Appeal Tribunal held that the appropriate place to challenge the nomination, sponsorship of the candidate including disobedience to court order is the High Court, not the Appeal or any other Court”.
The forum said they were fully conscious of the grand plan of some vested interest groups and personalities to further destabilize and ridicule Plateau state, just like is the case in other middle belt states.
“We plead with the Supreme Court and Nigerian Judicial Council to wade into the apparent destruction of legal precedence as seen by the recent judgments in the case of Plateau state Legislators and return the mandate of the people to the legitimate owners.
“We call on president Ahmed Bola Tinubu to rise to the occasion of defending our evolving democracy in Plateau state and Nigeria at large”, the forum voiced out.
It is on records that PDP was returned elected both at the state and the Federal legislative level. Won 2 Senate seats out of 3, 5 Federal House of Representative members out of 8, 16 state Assembly seats out of 24 as well as the governorship seat respectively.
