Plateau PDP rejects tribunal judgment declaring Lalong winner of senatorial election

The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, rejected the judgement of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal that gave the Plateau South Senate seat to Mr Simon Lalong, describing it as shocking.

PDP Chairman in the state, Mr Chris Hassan, rejected the judgement during a press briefing on Tuesday in Jos.

Ripples Nigeria reports that the tribunal chairman, Justice M. B. Tukur, on Monday, declared Lalong, a former governor of the state, as winner of the February 25 national assembly polls.

The tribunal also nullified the election of Mr Peter Gyendeng of Riyom/Barkin Ladi Federal Constituency and declared Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party (LP), who came second, as the winner.

Lalong and Daylop had approached the tribunal to challenge the emergence of Napoleon Bali and Gyendeng, both of the PDP, as Senator and House of Representatives member respectively.

The tribunal, in its judgment, relied on the petitioners’ claim that they were wrongly nominated as the PDP had no structure when they emerged as its candidates.

However, Hassan insisted that justice was not served by the Judges’ opinions.

”The PDP watched with dismay and trepidation the nulification of the elections of our Senator representing Plateau South and House of Representatives Member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency

Read also: Lauretta Onochie calls for arrest of Peter Obi for allegedly instigating violence

”We reject the outcome of the judgement 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 freely expressed at the election.

”The judgement was an electoral robbery which is unacceptable to the people of Plateau because it is contrary to the will of the people of the constituencies which was freely expressed via the votes we got in the election,” he said.

The PDP chairman further argued that the tribunal erred to have relied on the internal squabbles of the PDP to deliver its judgement in favour of the petitioners, explaining that his party had since complied with the judgment of Justice S.P. Gang and conducted a fresh congress, insisting that the party currently has “a solid and valid structure”.

According to him, the decision of the tribunal on the matter had utterly fallen short of expectation, saying that it was bereft of an iota of justice.

He described the judgments as a diversion of the undiluted will and choices of the people in the light of the consolidated judgments recently delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

”In this case, the PDP had since complied with the judgement of Justice S. P. Gang through a repeat congress in September 2021 which was dutifully monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.

”This same congress was affirmed by the Federal High Court sitting in Jos in a judgement delivered by Justice D. V. Agishi in the case of Augustine Timkuk versus PDP validating the state executive of the Party as duly elected.

”This same judgment was also unanimously affirmed by the court of Appeal, Jos in favour of the PDP in a ruling by Justice T. Y. Hassan, Justice I. A.  Andenyangtso and Justice O. O. Goodluck, delivered on 11 Feb., 2023.

”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, it will stand.

”This is because same position was affirmed by the seven judgments of panel two of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which is a sister panel to this one,” he said.

While vowing that the party would explore legal means to retain its mandate, Hassan said the judgement would not destroy its confidence in the judiciary.

He called on the supporters of the party to be law abiding and support Bali and Gyendeng to succeed in office.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now