Tribunal Sacks 3 PDP Lawmakers In Plateau

The National and State Assembly Tribunal sitting in Jos has nullified the election victory of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in Plateau state.

The sacked lawmakers include Remvyat Nanbol, Agbalak Adukuchill, and Happiness Akawu, representing Langtang Central, Rukuba/Iregwe, and Pengana constituencies respectively in the State House of Assembly.

The judgment was coming barely few hours to tribunal ruling on the March 18 governorship election in the state.

Delivering judgement on Thursday, the panel led by Justice Muhammad Tukur ruled that the sacked lawmakers were not legally sponsored by the PDP in view of the fact that their refusal to obey court orders to conduct ward congresses that would enable it have a valid structure.

Tukur added that the PDP lacked structure and therefore could not sponsor candidates for an election.

The tribunal further explained that the petitioners had the locus standi to challenge the participation or inclusion of PDP in the election.

The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Certificates of Return from the sacked lawmakers and issue new ones to the winners of the election.

It could be recalled that Dr. Nentawe Yiltwatda, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, is challenging the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who contested under PDP.

The Independent National Electoral Commission Mutfwang declared the winner of the poll after polling 525,299 votes beating Yiltwatda, who polled 481,370 votes, but the APC candidate went to court.

The tribunal had earlier sacked four PDP National Assembly members, including a senator, over party structure.