Plateau experiences turmoil as PDP lawmakers are ousted by Appeal Court decision, sparking protests

Hundreds of Plateau youths, including women and children, are currently staging protests around Jos, the state capital, over what they refer to as “conflicting tribunal and Court of Appeal judgements” that seek to remove state and National Assembly members selected in accordance with the state’s Peoples Democratic Party platform.

Recall that the Appeal Court cited the PDP’s lack of a legal framework in the state to reject the posts of four National Assembly members, including Senate Minority Leader Simon Mwadkwon, who was elected on the party’s platform.

The Jos-Abuja Highway was closed on Wednesday by protesters opposing the court’s decisions, which caused heavy traffic and left drivers stranded.

A large number of demonstrators also congregated near the well-known Mararaba Jamaa Roundabout, where they sang songs critical of the judiciary and set tyres on fire.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court in Plateau South upholds Simon Lalong’s victory as Senator-Elect

They charged that the All Progressives Congress was using the Appeal court to smuggle unpopular politicians into power through the back door in the general election of 2023 who were rejected by voters at the polls.

Among many other statements, some of the demonstrators carried posters that read, “The ballot is supreme,” “Do not kill our democracy,” “PDP is alive,” “Return people’s mandate,” and “We want justice.”

When this report was being filled out, security personnel could be seen attempting to scatter yet another group of demonstrators who had gathered at Old Airport Road to express their disapproval of the court rulings and demand that the National Judicial Council get involved in every case the PDP and its Plateau candidates were facing before the Appeal Court.