In what appeared to be a setback ahead of Friday’s judgment in the governorship election in Plateau state, the National and State Assembly Tribunal sitting in Jos, has sacked three Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmakers.…READFULL...CONTINUE READING
Those sacked are three House of Assembly members namely Hon. Remvyat Nanbol representing Langtang central, Hon. Agbalak Adukuchill, representing Rukuba/Irigwe and Hon. Happiness Akawu, who is representing Pengana constituencies in the assembly.
The tribunal declared Daniel Ninbol Listic of the Labour party (LP) as winner of Langtang central, Bako Ankala of APC for Rukuba/Irigwe and Yakubu Sanda of Pengana constituencied also of APC who all became second in the election.
The judgment, given on the eve of the ruling on the March 18 governorship election in the state, has further raised apprehension on the likely outcome of the governorship tussle.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election,. Nentawe Yiltwatda, is challenging the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Independent National Electoral Commission Mutfwang had declared the winner of the poll after polling 525,299 votes beating Yiltwatda, who polled 481,370 votes.
Justice Muhammad Tukur, who delivered judgment, said that the trio were not legally sponsored by the PDP.
The tribunal held that the inability of PDP to conduct legal congress to elect party executive made it structureless and so cannot sponsor candidates for any elective position.
Tukur further said that the petitioners had the locus standi to challenge the participation or inclusion of PDP in the election.
He ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Certificates of Return given to the sacked lawmakers and issue new ones to the eventual winners of the election.
The tribunal had earlier sacked four PDP National Assembly members, including Senator Napoleon Bali of PDP, who was elected to represent Plateau South Senatorial district.
In his place, the tribunal declared former Governor Simon Lalong and Minister of Labour and Employment of APC as duly elected senator…READFULL
