By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – A Plateau State High Court has dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging its exclusion from the October 9, 2021 election.
The PDP filed the suit challenging the decision of Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC, stopping the party from taking part in the local government election in the State.
Justice Ishaku Kunda of High Court 5 sitting in Jos dismissed the suit and equally awarded the sum N2.5million damages against the plaintiff.
In the judgment, Justice Kunda, held that PLASIEC was legally right to have refused PDP nomination and expression of interest forms for the said election adding that the PDP instead of abiding by the judgement of SP Gang of November 20, 2020 to conduct state Congress, the party went ahead to evoke sections of its constitution to dissolved the state EXCO and constituted a caretaker committee which conducted its primaries that produced the candidates which PLASIEC refused to issue forms.
In the circumstances, the judge further held that all the steps and actions taken by the caretaker committee including the conduct of the said primary elections was null and void, stating, “the entire claims in the submission of the claimant is hereby, dismissed.”
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It would be recalled that the PDP just concluded its State Congress and announced its new State executive on Monday.
Reacting to the judgment, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, John Akans said, “It was disappointing as we watched Justice Kunda deliver a most ridiculous judgment in the history of the Nigerian judiciary. It is obvious that this judgment has unveiled the government’s true self as enemy of the people.”
“It is indeed shameful that a judge could go down to such despicable levels to show his contempt for the people of Plateau State by shocking attempt to demonize the cries of the people against injustice while seeking for justice.
“In his judgment, the judge claimed that our case was based on the interpretation of a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction and thus robbed him of jurisdiction to review or try.”
“Notwithstanding, he went ahead to wholesomely interpret and review, and also claimed that he could enforce the judgment by making far reaching orders which none of the parties asked for, one of which is the order of justice Gang in Kaze’s case and the parties were not even invited by Kunda to address him on those issues.”
“This judgment can only be celebrated by those whose consciences are dead to the plight of the people. We therefore call on our members across the state to remain calm as arrangement has been made for an appeal to be filed immediately, which our legal team has commenced the process. The PDP will never allow anti democratic forces in an open confrontation with norms and values of democracy, and at this time the people will not be the victims of those forces.”
