PLATEAU GOVERNORSHIP: UNLAWFUL EXCLUSION: DABWAN ALFRED CLARK AND NNPP FILE PETITION, CHALLENGING THE VICTORY OF MUTFWANG, PDP, OTHERS

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

Apart from the petition filed by Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against INEC, Mutfwang Caleb Manasseh (Esq) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their victory at the polls, also dissatisfied with the outcome and conduct of the governorship election in Plateau State, Dabwan Alfred Clark, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) and one Solomon Nandy Chendan of the African Democratic Party (ADC) have filed their petitions at the Governorship Election Tribunal in Jos.

The 1^st petitioner, Dabwan Alfred Clark, who stated that he has the right to vote and be voted for, in his petition stated that, he was duly nominated and sponsored by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), as the governorship candidate in the governorship election for Plateau state, held on Saturday, 18^th March, 2023.

He however claimed that, he was unlawfully excluded from contesting the said election even though he was duly sponsored by the 2^nd petitioner.

“The petitioners state that the said election ought to be cancelled for non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 and for the unlawful exclusion of the Petitioners from the election”. The claim reads.

Also before the National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal in Jos, is the petition of Daniel Asama Ago and Labour Party, challenging the victory of Hon. Musa Avia Agah of the PDP.

The petition also has, Hon. Adamu Muhammad Alkali, PDP, PRP and INEC as Respondents.

The Petitioner, Daniel Asama Ago, in his petition, claimed that, he was the candidate of Labour Party at the election for the office of Member of the House of Representatives for Jos/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau state, held on the 25^th day of February, 2023.

You would recall that, the constitution of the Election Petitions Tribunal in Plateau State was done in line with Section 285 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice M. B. Donge An-Mensem (CFR) and communicated via press release dated 22 February, 2020 and signed by, Mrs. Diete-Spiff Belemo, as Secretary Election Petition Tribunal Plateau State.

Findings by this Newspaper also confirms that, Gyang Yaya Zi (Esq) and the Labour Party have filed their petition, challenging INEC, PDP over the victory of Mwadkwon Simon Davou, for the election for the office of Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Plateau North Senatorial District, held on the 25^th day of February, 2023.