PDP demands disbandment of Plateau election appeal panel

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded disbandment of the Plateau State Election Appeal panel and review the judgments of the panel.

The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference, in Abuja, accused the Appeal Court panel of giving conflicting judgments in electoral appeals before it.

He added that panel is allegedly a danger to democratic process, national peace and stability,  noting that the panel

reached different conclusions with respect to election appeals with the same subject matter, same facts, same circumstances and same applicable laws.

“Specifically, in the case of Plateau North senatorial district won by Sen. Simon Mwadkwon of the PDP and the APC candidate coming third, the Panel in its judgment in Court of Appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/SEN/12/2023 delivered on Sunday 22nd October, 2023 curiously annulled PDP’s victory and ordered INEC to conduct a rerun election among all the parties.

“In the case of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency won by Hon. Musa Agar of the PDP and where the APC candidate also came third, the Panel in its judgment in Court of Appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/HR/14/2023 delivered on Friday 27th October, 2023 annulled the victory of the PDP and ordered a rerun excluding the PDP.

“In the third appeal case of Shendam/Quaan-Pan/Mikang Federal Constituency, won by Hon. Isaac Kwallu of the PDP with John Dafwan of the APC as runner-up, the Appeal Court Justices in Court of Appeal No.  CA/J/EP/PL/HR/18/2023 annulled the victory of the PDP candidate, declared the APC candidate as outright winner and ordered that the Certificate of Return issued to the victorious PDP candidate be withdrawn and a fresh Certificate of Return issued to the APC candidate,” he stated.