Tribunal confirms PDP have valid structure in Plateau…strikes out Giwa, Kwande, petitions against Senate minority leader Mwadkon

By Daniel Agada, Jos

National and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in High Court 6 Division Jos, has confirmed that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have a valid structure in Plateau.

Tribunal’s position was made public in two separate judgments delivered on Friday in response to allegation and insinuation by All Progressive Congress (APC) that PDP in Plateau is structureless.

The said allegation is predicated on ground one of the Ambassador Chris Giwa of APC (Petitioners) in suit No:EPT/PL/SEN/01/2023 filed before the Tribunal on 17th March,2023, challenging the nomination and sponsorship of the 2nd respondent (Simon Mwadkon) by the 3rd respondent (PDP) in Plateau North Senatorial district election held 25th February, 2023.

Giwa who became third in the  election faulted the 1st respondent (INEC) for declaring 2nd respondent winner, claiming that the 3rd respondent violated section 65 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, therefore, as of time Plateau North senatorial district election 3rd respondent don’t have a valid structure to nominate and sponsor 2nd respondent.

The petitioners also alleged non compliance to the provision of the electoral Act 2022 as the election was marred by irregularities.

In its anonymous judgment, a three man panel lead by Honourable Justice, Williams Rotimi Olamide on ground one of the petition disagreed with the petitioners claim that the 3rd respondent doesn’t have valid structure.

“I hereby agreed that the 3rd respondent, PDP, held State Congress on 25th September, 2021. The issue of nomination and sponsorship of candidate remains within a domestic domain of political party.

“The petitioners lacks locus standing to challenge the nomination of Simon Mwadkon by PDP. The only person that is at liberty to seek redress in Federal High Court is aspirant who participated the primaries election.

However, on issues of non compliance with electoral guideline, Tribunal stated that the only eyewitness to proved the burden of non compliance by way of over-voting, voters register and BVAS malfunction is polling units agents.

Tribunal upheld that “the is ineffective and has affected by terminal diseases that no medicine under the earth can cure it.

“Therefore, the petition is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit and affirmed the return of the 2nd respondent (Simon Mwadkon) as Senator Plateau North senatorial district earlier declared by 1st respondent (INEC).

In a similar scenario, the Tribunal in suit No: EPT/PL/SEN/03/2023 stroke out petition of Suleiman Yahaya Kwande of Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, against Senate minority leader, Simon Mwadkon.

Kwande which became forth, having been dissatisfied with the declaration of Simon Mwadkon as winner of 25th February, 2023, Plateau North senatorial district election by INEC approached Tribunal to seek redress.

Honourable Justice Emmanuel Nwazunku PhD, held that “
exhibits tendered by the Petitioners are worse than useless. This Petition is devoid of any iota of merit and it is hereby, dismiss.”