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Just in: Plateau
LG Election Petition Tribunal; PDP Calls for the Constitution of 2 additional panels
as tribunal holds inaugural sitting
By Lovins
Yakubu
November 23,
2018
The Plateau State Local Government
Election Petition Tribunal held its inaugural sitting on Friday with its
Chairman, his Honour, Jovita Binchim calling on Counsels to both parties to
co-operate with the tribunal to enable it conclude its assignment within the
stipulated time.
Binchim stated that the tribunal would take a
critical look into the 77 petitions filed before it stressing that its final
verdict on each would be based on merit. The tribunal Chairman further urged
counsels to constantly check the notice board for new information.
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| Barr Jentul Plateau PDP Legal Adviser at the venue of the tribunal today |
In their separate contributions, Pius
Akubo (SAN) and Chief Sunday Odey all expressed their confidence in the
tribunal taking into account the pedigree of its members and further urged
members of tribunal to be guided by the facts at their disposal.
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)
Chairman Plateau State Chapter, Boniface Nkem also applauded the composition of
members of the panel. He however said that the tribunal has a task and a big
challenge regarding the number of petitions before it and the time within which
to dispense of these petitions.
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| Hon Latep Dabang, APC Chairman, Plateau state chapter |
“As members of the temple of Justice,
we pledge our loyalty believing the tribunal will be fair to all the parties
involved” he said.
Speaking to African Drum after the session, Hon Latep Debang, the Chairman of the
ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Barrister Binchen Jentul Legal
Adviser to the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau
State Chapter all expressed confidence in the tribunal and also expressed
satisfaction at the level of preparations by their counsels with each believing
that justice would go his way.
However, beside expressing much
confidence in members of the tribunal, Hon. Amos Gombi, the Deputy Chairman of
the PDP in Plateau State also made a passionate call to the chief Justice of
Plateau State, Justice Yakubu Dakwak to consider it as an issue of urgent and
importance to re-constitute two additional correspondent panels to handle the
77 petitions to ensure the completion of its assignment within the stipulated
period. Gombi said that Plateau State in its entire history has never witnessed
the number of election petitions filed one election as in the current case
stressing that it is what prompted his call for additional panels.
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| Hon Amos Gombi PDP Deputy Chairman, Plateau state chapter |
According to him, “40 out of the 90
days are already gone. So, you can imagine the enormous work before the panel
which is expected to look into 77 petitions meticulously and decide on them in
just 50 days. 77 petitions to be decided by one panel in 50 days is not an easy
task. Plateau State in its entire history has never had this number of
petitions filed in one election.” Said Gombi
Recall that Plateau State Independent
Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) conducted Local Government Election in 13 Local
Governments in the State on 10th October, 2018 in which all the
Chairmanship candidates of the ruling APC were declared winners. The PDP thereafter
rejected the results and approached the election petition tribunal.
African Drum reports that 77 petitions
comprising of 8 chairmanships and 69 councillorships were filed before the tribunal.
The PDP did not challenge the Chairmanship election in 5 local governments
which include, Wase, Kanam, Shendam, Jos East and Quan Pan.
The PDP has conceded defeat in Wase,
Kanam and Jos East while Shendam and Quan-pan are not challenge for want of
evidence.
The opposition party is however,
challenging the following local government in the tribunal; Bokkos, Bassa,
Mikang, Pankshin, Kanke, Mangu, Langtang North, and Langtang South
respectively.
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