The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep concerns regarding the recent judicial pronouncements by the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel and has called for its disbandment.
In a press conference by its National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party highlighted a pattern of varying and conflicting judgments that, in their view, undermine democracy and the will of the people as expressed in the 2023 National Assembly Elections in Plateau State.
The PDP has raised alarm over what they perceive as a threat to the democratic process, national peace, and stability. They argue that the inconsistency in judgments poses a risk of creating a dangerous precedent for judicial interference and could lead to anarchy, chaos, and a breakdown of law and order in the already tense Plateau State.
Allegations of compromise and undue influence on the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel have added to the concerns. The PDP has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State of exerting significant pressure on the panel to subvert the people’s will, citing instances where elections won by the PDP were awarded to the APC through inexplicable varying judgments on identical election contexts and circumstances.
The PDP has questioned the Panel’s departure from established judicial practices where cases with similar facts and applicable laws typically result in consistent outcomes, especially before the same court, and during the same time frame. They have noted that the Panel, in a disturbing pattern, reached different conclusions on election appeals with identical subject matters, facts, circumstances, and applicable laws, favoring the APC over the PDP.
Despite the PDP’s sweeping victory over the APC in Plateau State during the 2023 general elections, the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel has, in certain cases, ordered reruns in elections where the PDP emerged victorious, while also issuing judgments that withdraw the Certificate of Return from PDP candidates who originally won and award it to the APC candidates who came second in the elections.
For instance, in the Plateau North Senatorial District, the Panel annulled the PDP’s victory and ordered a rerun, even though the APC came third. Similarly, in the case of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, the Panel annulled the PDP’s victory and ordered a rerun that excluded the PDP, despite the APC also coming third. In the Shendam/Quaan-Pan/Mikang Federal Constituency case, the Panel declared the APC candidate the winner, withdrew the Certificate of Return from the PDP candidate, and awarded it to the APC candidate, despite the PDP emerging victorious.
The PDP has voiced concerns that the Panel’s judgments have heightened tension in Plateau State and could lead to a serious crisis, as the people believe the Panel is working to take away the mandate they freely gave to PDP candidates and illegally award it to the APC.
These conflicting verdicts by the same Panel of Justices, in the eyes of the PDP, cast doubt on the integrity of the Appeal Court and the entire judicial system, further fueling allegations of inducement by the APC. The PDP has asserted that these judgments could provoke public outrage and tarnish the reputation of the Judiciary.
Given the loss of confidence in the current Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel, the PDP has made the following demands:
Immediate disbandment of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel by the President of the Court of Appeal.
Formation of a new Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel to hear the remaining Appeals, as the current panel is perceived to show bias in favor of APC candidates.
Subjecting the manifestly biased and inconsistent judgments of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel to judicial review.
Furthermore, the PDP has instructed its legal representatives to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the conduct of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel, which they find unbecoming of judicial officers.
The PDP has called upon its members, critical stakeholders, supporters, and the people of Plateau State to remain calm and vigilant, and to use legal means to protect and defend their electoral mandate.
