HEARING COMMENCES ON PLATEAU CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT PETITION, FILED BY AMB. GOTOM

–SEN. DIKET PLANG SHOULD APOLOGIES—AMB. GOTOM

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

The hearing of Petition No: EPT/PL/SEN/06/2023, filed by Amb. Gulkuna Yohanna Gotom, commenced today, with the Petitioners tendering huge numbers of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of INEC documents, which were used in conducting and announcing the results of the Plateau Central Senatorial District election conducted on the 25^th of February, 2023.

The documents are result sheets EC8A series from Mangu, Bokkos and Kanam Local Government Areas (LGAs), with a huge number coming from Mangu and Kanam LGAs of Plateau State.

Prof. Sylvester Silke (SAN), Counsel to the Petitioners, tendered from the Bar, over 21 CTCs of INEC results out of 27 from Munbou, Dengi Wards and Bakin Kasuwa in Kantena Wards, as listed from the 1^st Schedule of Documents to be relied on, dated the 12^th of August, 2023, but filed on the 13^th of August 2023.

In its 5^th list of items, the Petitioners have also tendered 14 EC8A1 series, from Mangu and Kanam LGAs.

Although, INEC’s Counsel, Sani Rabiu (Esq), the Counsel to the 2^nd and 3^rd Respondents, A. G. Yirvous (Esq) and S. S. Obende (Esq) have respectively objected to the admissibility of the documents and to provide the reasons at the address stage, the Tribunal has admitted them in Evidence for now..

The matter has been adjourned to Wednesday, the 16^th of August, 2023, for continuation of hearing.

AMB. GOTOM

In an interview with Amb. Gotom by Journalists at the Court Premises, he said, “Sen. Diket Plang, one of the Respondents to my Petition, came and left simply because, he has heard the tone of events in the Tribunal.

“You can see that, the Tribunal has admitted items in our Schedule of Documents 1 to 7. As you will find out like the Tribunal will, facts and figures don’t lie.

“As an Accountant, we are used to figures. We also take figures to theaters and operate on them so, you can’t deceive me with figures. So, it is not wise to have cooked figures and tender them on us.

“You can see that, the Lawyers are even very surprised seeing the manipulations in most of the documents we just tendered.

“For my opponent that has come and left today, he has seen it all! So, I expect he should just come and tender an apology so that we can adopt him in Abuja.

“I want to say this in Hausa; Abokin Barawo, shima Barawo ne. (A friend of a Thief is also a Thief).

SEN. DIKET

However, reacting to the issue and accusations made earlier by Amb. Gotom that, Sen. Diket Plang, has abandoned the people of the Central Zone and the hearing of the Petition, Sen. Diket, in a separate interview told Journalist that:

“I am Sen. Diket Plang, Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District of Plateau State. I have been voted to represent the good people of Plateau Central district at the senate. I am a member of the 10^th Senate. I know you people will visibly know that, that I am one of the Senators represent Plateau State.

“You will also know that, I am the only Senator from Plateau State that is Chairing a Committee. I am also one of the first Senators to present a Bill that has passed through the FIRST READING.

“You also know that, I brought the first Motion on the issues in Plateau State, with about 5 prayers that were unanimously accepted.

“You will know that, the prayers on my Motion were that, the security operatives should shift to Mangu Local Government Area. One of my prayers is that the Services Chiefs should go to the sight and they went. Another is that, NEMA should be able to supply palliatives.

“If anybody says that, I have abandoned my constituents, it implies that, I am not in any plenary and that I am excluded from the activities of the chambers.

“But, if I am there for the people, then my presences is visible. If the people voted me to be in Abuja, I have being there maximally!’

You would recall that, REALITY had reported that, as the Petition No: EPT/PL/SEN/06/2023, filed by Amb. Gulkuna Yohanna Gotom, concluded its Pre-hearing Session and commencement of hearing fixed by the Tribunal, the 1^st Petitioner, Amb. Gotom had accused, Sen. Diket Plang, of allegedly abandoning his constituents and the case against him via the Petition over his declared victory by INEC at the polls.

He made this accusation in an interview with Journalists at the premises of the Tribunal, after the Petition was adjourned to 14/16 of August, 2023.

Amb. Gotom, accused Sen. Diket Plang, of allegedly abandoning the people of his zone in Plateau Central, “over desperation and ambition to stay in the Red Chambers of National Assembly’.