Plateau: PDP kick’s against Tribunal verdict, set for appeal to reclaim mandate
By Daniel Agada, Jos
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Plateau State chapter has expressed dissatisfaction over the decision of National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, which nullified four National Assembly seats of the party in Plateau.
Recall a three man panel of the Tribunal led by Hon.Justice Mohammed Tukur and two other Justices nullified the elections of AVM Napoleon Bali (rtd), Senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, Hon.Peter Gyendeng member representing Riyom/Barkin Ladi Federal Constituency and Hon. Beni Lar, member representing Langtang North and South Federal constituency.
The Tribunal in its anonymous decision said PDP on the Plateau does not have a valid structure to sponsor a candidate as of 25th February, 2023, general elections.
Addressing newsmen at party Secretariat in Jos, Tuesday, Hon.Christopher Hassan, the chairman of PDP Plateau state described the judgment as a temporary setback, noting that the party will explore all legal means to reclaim its mandate.
According to him, “PDP rejects the outcome of the judgment in its entirety because justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the interest of the majority of the people as they freely expressed during election.
“The fact remains that PDP has a valid and solid structure through which our mandate was given and we 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).”
The party chairman further explain that they take great pains as the decision of the tribunal on this matter utterly falls far short of that expectation. “we are here to tell you that, the judgments of the tribunal yesterday and today 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.
“As law-abiding Party, we will explore all available legal means to restore the victory of the PDP back”, party chairman vowed.
