From Jude Owuamanam, Jos

The number of lawmakers elected into the Plateau State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen to 20 as the Court of Appeal has nullified the election of 11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the state assembly.

The appellate court, sitting in Abuja had in a unanimous decision, led by Justice Okon Abang, held that all the sacked lawmakers scored wasted votes at the time of the March 18, 2023 election because the PDP had no structure upon which they were nominated as candidates in the first place.

The judge also held that the PDP violated section 177 of the 1999 constitution, hence could not sponsor candidates in the elections.

The court however declared all the second runners up in the elections as the winners.

Those sacked are: Hon Timothy Dantong representing Riyom constituency, Rimyat Nanbol, (Langtang North Central), Moses Sule (Mikang), Salome Waklek,-Pankshin, Hon. Bala Fwangji (Mangu South), Hon. Maren Ishaku (Bokkos), Hon. Dagogot (Qua’an Pan North) and Nannim Langyi (Langtang North North).

Others are Nimchak Rims (Langtang South) Hon. Danjuma Azi (Jos North West) Gwottson Fom (Jos South) and Hon. Abubakar Sani idris (Mangu North).

APC had previously won seven seats in the March 18 election and had had two, Pengana and Rukuba/Irigwe state constituencies added to its kitty by a previous Appeal Court judgement.

With this, APC now has 20, Young Peoples Party (YPP) and Labour Party (LP) one apiece in the 24-member Assembly.

The ruling in the two remaining state constituencies – Qua’an Pan South and Barakin Ladi, will be delivered in a few days.

Reacting to the development, the APC candidate in the governorship election, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, described the present composition of the State House of Assembly so far, as the dawn of a new era.