By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The National/State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State has declared that, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Plateau State has no structure and it is as well in disobedience to several Court orders in Petitions No: EPT/PL/HR/03/2023 and EPT/PL/HR/04/2023 filed by, Mr. A. I. Alfred and Hon. Vincent Veman respectively.
The Tribunal held that, INEC, the body saddled with the responsibility of monitoring political parties also failed to prove that, it monitored the Plateau State PDP’s Congress allegedly held on the 25th of September, 2021.
The Tribunal in its Judgment sacking, Hon. Musa Bagos and Hon. Beni Lar, read by Hon. Justice O. A. Adetuye (Member II) and Hon. Justice B. M. Tukur (Chairman) held that, INEC failed to even call any witness to substantiate its report tendered before the Tribunal, which claims that, the PDP actually conducted its Congress as ordered by the various Courts on the 25th of September, 2021.
The Tribunal in deciding Petition No: EPT/PL/HR/03/2023 and EPT/PL/HR/04/2023, declared that, since PDP has no structure it cannot validly nominate and sponsor any candidate to contest election in the state.
It also held that, the Order of the Courts for PDP to conduct another Congress was not limited to Plateau State Local Government election.
According to the Tribunal, even if the various Judgments before the Tribunal were not tendered, the Tribunal would have taken Judicial Notice of them if cited.
The Tribunal has therefore ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Returns issued to Hon. Lar and Hon. Bagos, as the victory is null and void as they were not qualified at the time of the election to contest, while votes for them were wasted votes.
The Tribunal has also ordered INEC to issue Certificates of Return to Hon. Vincent and Mr. Alfred.
TO BE CONTINUED….
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