” Urge CJN to prevail on Judges handling election matters in Plateau ”
By Israel Adamu, Jos
Plateau South People Assemblies (PSPA) has expressed concerns over what they called contradictory election judgements in Plateau .
The group in a statement jointly signed by Dashe Dawam the Chairman of the group and
PSPA) Elder Timloh Vongjen the Secretary said the group is an umbrella body of all the Six LGAs that made up Plateau South Senatorial District.
” The time is now for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) and indeed, prominent Nigerians to prevail on the judges handling election matters from Plateau State to allow the people have those they voted into office to represent them. they added .
The statement reads in parts ” We note that the 2023 general election was a major stake that was meant to consolidate the democratic governance that has continued to evolve in the country since 1999.”
” The desire for the people of the state to participate in the electoral process was clearly demonstrated in 2023 general elections where the people came out in large number, to vote their preferred candidates.”
It is our believe and hope that our elected representatives will bring the dividends of democracy right to our door steps.
We are however taken aback by the recent waves of judicial pronouncements upturning the elections of our representatives in some of the constituencies in very strange circumstances by the Plateau Election Petition Tribunal and of recent the Court of Appeal, which have given contradictory judgements on the same elections and the same subject matters, thereby throwing the entire state into a state of total confusion and apprehension.
Besides, this ugly development calls for a great concerns on the role of the judiciary in upholding the tenets of democracy and appreciating the wishes of the people.
We are shocked by the pattern of the judgements, nullifying elections of some of our representatives, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over what is termed as improper nomination and sponsorship of candidates by the PDP.
By this act , the judiciary may be perceived as imposing on its self the role of determining who will rule the people against their popular wishes.
We must further state that these developments are a great threat to democracy in Nigeria as it’s stand today.
The situation if not properly handled and managed can lead to total break down of law and order and as well undermine the existing peace on the Plateau.
Similarly, we hereby called on the judiciary to save democracy and allow justice to be served.
Plateau people are not willing to throw away the mandate they freely gave their elected representatives on grounds of judicial technicalities and some other contradictory pronouncements.
The association also believes that the judiciary will restrain any efforts that will disstabilize Plateau State, as our desire to live in peace is not optional, but a necessity.
They also call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed TINUBU ( GCFR) to raise to the occasion of defending our evolving Democracy in Plateau state and Nigeria at large.
