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Youths plan grand protest Friday
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
There is panic in Jos and Bukuru Metropolis over plans by youths in the state to raze down the Court of Appeal building in Jos in protest against the judgments of the court, which sacked all the National Assembly members elected under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The youths have also scheduled to hold what they described as Mother of All protest against judgments on Friday.
In sweeping judgments, the appellate court upheld the decisions of the Mohammed Tukur-led National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos, which sacked Senators Napoleon Bali and Simon Mwadkon representing Plateau South and Plateau North Senatorial zones, respectively; Dachung Musa Bagos, member representing Jos South/Jos East; Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng, Barkin Ladi/Riyom; Isaac Kyale Kwallu, Mikang/Qua’an Pan/Shendam; and Musa Agah Avia, Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituencies.
The Court had said that the lawmakers were sacked because the PDP did not obey the judgment of a court, which asked them to go and conduct another primary election to constitute a proper state executive council.
The Court mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue certificates of return to candidates of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party, who came second in the February 25 presidential and National Assembly election.
Since then there had been uproar over the judgments, with members of APC calling for a review of the rulings.
The state is also anxiously awaiting the decision of the appellate court on the
appeal lodged by the candidate of the APC in the March 18 Governorship Election, Yilwatda Nentawe, against the ruling of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld the election of Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP.
On Wednesday, the police had a running battle with youths who blocked the Abuja – Jos road, at the Old Airport road and Mararaban Jama’a junction, to protest the judgments, saying that PDP did not receive justice.
Youths under the aegis of PDP National Youth Movement, in a poster they pasted in strategic places in Jos and Bukuru urged all youths in Plateau state to come out en masse for the protest.
But the police alleged the youths are planning mayhem in the state by burning down the Court of Appeal building, warning that they will not take kindly to such protest.
The police described it as act capable of throwing the state into chaos.
Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Okoro J. Alawari, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, said that he had “Observed with dismay the way and manner in which some aimless group of persons clustered and unlawfully blocked the public highway around Old Airport junction, Mararaban Jama’a and even attempted to set ablaze the Court of Appeal structure Jos in the name of protest against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, in respect of the Senatorial/House of Representatives that was delivered yesterday.
“In order to maintain peace, law and order in the state, the CP has warned individuals, or group of persons protesting under any guise, whose reaction could truncate the peace currently being enjoyed in the state to desist from such actions or else, the police command will not hesitate to take decisive action against the perpetrators in accordance with the extant laws.
The CP therefore warned parents, traditional/religious leaders, to warn their wards and subjects, to steer clear from such unlawful protests to avoid being apprehended by the law enforcement agencies.
Alawari further advised all members of the public to maintain peace and go about their lawful businesses.
