Plateau Collation of PDP Youths rejects Tribunal Judgement of Central Senatorial election
From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos
A Collation of People’s Democratic Party PDP Youths group in Plateau Central Senatorial have Rejected in totality the tribunal judgement of the senatorial seat led by the Justice Muhammad Tukur Panel.
Spokesman of the Youth group Friday Longtong while addressing Journalists at the PDP Secretariat Jos, on Thursday expressed bitterness in the Manner the tribunal declared the case negatively against the PDP Candidate whom they said won the election.
According to the group, the elections tribunal Panel that handled Plateau Central Zone delivered one-sided judgment to favour a particular party that couldn’t win elections on the ballot but was bent on stealing the mandate of the PDP candidate.
“The case before the said tribunal was basically on matters and issues that arise from the day of elections but the justices neglected the facts before them in a 6hrs Zoom Judgment presentation and wasted the whole time discussing issues that have nothing to do with the elections of Plateau Central Zone which was without any doubt won by Amb. G.Y Gotom.
“Recall that sometime in February 2023, the result of the Plateau Central Senatorial District election was not announced at the time others were announced due to some unresolved issues. Some of these issues as raised by Amb. G.Y. Gotom (PDP candidate) includes; over-voting, lack of use of BVAS, and results mutilation in some polling units, especially in the Gagdi ward of Kanam LGA. Prof Daniel Dabi who at the time was the returning officer in his wisdom halted the declaration of a winner until the valid issues raised by the PDP candidate were resolved.
“Unfortunately, while the peace-loving people of Plateau Central Senatorial District were waiting for the said issues to be resolved, another returning officer (Dr . Jimam Lar) rather than the one who collated the results (Prof. Daniel Dabi) was smuggled into Pankshin LGC, the central collation centre amidst tight security where Diket Plang of the APC was declared the winner.
“This single act by the Justice Tukur-led panel is not only worrisome but a threat to existing peace and democracy where the collective will of the people of Plateau Central Senatorial District is cut short.
“The court cannot affirm illegality by accepting results declaration by Dr Jimam Lar after two months against the 7 days as enshrined in the 2022 electoral act as amended and expects people to be happy with such judgement.
“This particular judgement if allowed to stand will make the common man lose hope in the judiciary, God forbid. So in summary, our cardinal point is that the youths and the peace-loving people of the central zone frown at the court Judgement because till date the results of the Plateau Central Senatorial election have not yet been declared by the lawfully appointed returning officer (Prof. Daniel Dabi) as he rightly tenders before the tribunal court.
“We are optimistic that the appellate court will do the needful by the 2022 electoral act as amended and by the rule of law. We still believe in the judiciary that the right thing will be done in other to prove to Nigerians that indeed the court is truly the last hope of the common Man. All eyes on the judiciary”
Prime Time News reports that the Central Senatorial zone is comprised of Bokkos, Mangu, Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam local government Areas of Plateau state.
