The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its strong disagreement with the recent judgment by the National Assembly election petitions tribunal that awarded the Plateau South Senate seat to Simon Lalong. PDP Chairman Chris Hassan voiced the party’s rejection of the tribunal’s decision during a press briefing in Jos.
The tribunal, led by Justice M. B. Tukur, issued its ruling on Monday, declaring Mr. Lalong as the winner of the February 25 national assembly polls. It also nullified the election of Peter Gyendeng of the Riyom-Barkin Ladi federal constituency, proclaiming Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party, who came second, as the victor.
Both Dalyop and Gyendeng, both of the PDP, had contested the emergence of Napoleon Bali and Gyendeng as senator and House of Representatives member, respectively, and the tribunal favored the petitioners’ claim that they were wrongly nominated due to the PDP’s alleged lack of structure at the time of their candidacies.
PDP Chairman Chris Hassan expressed the party’s disappointment with the tribunal’s decision, stating, “We reject the outcome of the judgment in its entirety because justice was not served, and it did not reflect the law and the interest of the majority of the people as freely expressed at the election.” He went on to label the judgment as “electoral robbery” and “contrary to the will of the people.”
Hassan argued that the tribunal had erred by basing its decision on the internal disputes of the PDP, as the party had since complied with the judgment of Justice S.P. Gang and conducted a fresh congress, thereby establishing a “solid and valid structure.” He emphasized that the tribunal’s ruling had fallen short of delivering justice.
The PDP chairman viewed the tribunal’s verdict as a diversion from the genuine will and choices of the people, especially in light of the consolidated judgments recently issued by the presidential election petition tribunal.
|Peoples Gazette
