Simon Lalong was awarded the Plateau South Senate seat by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has challenged this decision.
During a news conference on Tuesday in Jos, its chairman, Mr. Chris Hassan, rejected the verdict.
Lalong was proclaimed the victor of the National Assembly elections on February 25, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which is the head of the tribunal.
Additionally, the Labour Party’s (LP) Fom Dalyop, who finished second, was proclaimed the winner, invalidating Mr. Peter Gyendeng’s election as federal representative for the Riyom/Barkin Ladi constituency.
Napoleon Bali and Gyendeng, both members of the PDP, were elected to the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively. The two had gone before the tribunal to protest their election.
The petitioners argued that they were wrongfully nominated because the PDP lacked structure when they emerged as candidates, and this is what the tribunal used as justification for disqualifying the winners.
While disapproving of the decision, Hassan emphasised that the judges’ views did not promote justice.
“The PDP watched with shock and apprehension as the elections of our senator for Plateau South and the member of the House of Representatives for Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency were declared invalid.
“We reject the verdict’s entire result because it was unjust, did not adhere to the law, and did not represent the interests of the vast majority of voters as they were freely expressed during the election.
“The judgement was an electoral robbery,” he declared, “which is unacceptable to the people of Plateau because it is contrary to the will of the people of the constituencies who freely expressed themselves through the votes we received in the election.”
Hassan argued that the tribunal erred in siding with the petitioners by basing its decision on the PDP’s internal disputes.
He insisted that the party today has “a solid and valid structure” and went on to explain that his party had subsequently cooperated with the Justice S.P. Gang judgement and held a new congress.
In addition, he said the tribunal’s conclusion on the subject had been totally inadequate and devoid of any justice.
In view of the consolidated rulings that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal recently issued, the chairman termed the rulings as a diversion of the pure will and choices of the people.
In this instance, the PDP complied with Justice S. P. Gang’s ruling by holding a second congress in September 2021, which was dutifully observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in accordance with the law.
“This same congress was confirmed by the Federal High Court in Jos in a decision made in the case of Augustine Timkuk versus PDP certifying the state executive of the Party as properly elected. The verdict was given by Justice D. V. Agishi.
In a decision made on February 11, 2023, Justices T. Y. Hassan, I. A. Andenyangtso, and O. O. Goodluck unanimously affirmed the same judgement in favour of the PDP.
“The reality is that PDP has a legitimate and strong structure through which our mandate was granted, and we are optimistic that by the special grace of God, it will stand.
This is because panel two of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which is a sister panel to this one, upheld the identical view in seven of its judgements, he explained.
Nevertheless, Hassan stated that the party will look at legal options to preserve its mandate and added that the verdict would not undermine its faith in the judicial system.
He urged party members to follow the law and back Bali and Gyendeng in their efforts to win election.
