By: Valentine Adese (JP),
There is a strong fear within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau State chapter today, as the National/State Houses of Assembly Tribunal, like a Tsunami, has sacked Sen. Napoleon, the Distinguished Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and his colleague in the Green Chambers, Hon. Peter Gyenden, who is representing Riyom/Barkin-ladi Federal Constituency of Plateau State from the National Assembly.
The Tribunal in its Judgment in Petition No: EPT/PL/HR/01/2023, filed by Fom Dalyop Chollom and Petition No: EPT/PL/SEN/02/2023, filed by the former Governor of the State, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong held that, the issue of qualification to sponsor candidates by the PDP was not only a Pre-election matter, but also a Post Election matter.
According to Hon. Justice Elekwa, member of the Tribunal Panel II and Hon. Justice B. M. Tukur, the Chairman of the Panel II, who read the Judgment of the Petition filed by Fom Dalyop Chollom and Simon Lalong respectively, the Tribunal held that, what the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their candidates are challenging at the Tribunal was not the Primary elections conducted by the PDP in the state nor its outcome, but the qualification of the party to sponsor any candidate, which makes it a Post Election matter.
It also held that, there was no way the Tribunal would not have taken Judicial Notice of the plethora of cases tendered before it by the respective parties in the two Petitions, with respect to the allegations of Disobedience to Court Orders.
It further held that, the Courts Judgments before the Tribunal are not only related to the Plateau State Local Government (LG) elections as they (PDP) were directed to conduct their congresses.
Adding that, the Judgments are binding on all, irrespective of their statue/position.
Although the Tribunal held that the Petitioners were unable to prove their allegations of Non-substantial compliance, issues of alteration and mutilations of results in both Petitions beyond reasonable doubts and did not speak to these criminal allegations, while giving evidence through their witnesses, it however held in Petition No: EPT/PL/HR/01/2023 that, the petitioners were able to establish that they had the second highest lawful votes cast.
The Tribunal has ordered INEC to retrieve the Certificate of Return issued to Hon. Peter Gyenden and that also issued to Sen. Napoleon, as their elections were null and void and their votes being wasted votes.
It has further ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Fom Dalyop Chollom of the Labour Party, while granting the Alternative Reliefs sought by Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong.
in their reactions to the Judgments in separate on-the spot interviews, Edward Pwajok (SAN), Counsel to the Petitioners, and Fom Dalyop, both commended the Tribunal for the Judgments and while Pwajok (SAN) advised PDP to obey Court Judgments in the future, Fom promised to serve the people of his constituency as he had promised them before and during the elections.
Fom said, “I now believe that, the Court is truly the last hope of the common man”.
TO BE CONTINUED….
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