The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon, has described the tribunal judgments nullifying the election of some National Assembly members in Plateau State as perplexing. He firmly asserts that these judgments will not hold.
Senator Mwadkwon, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Plateau North Senatorial District, expressed his confidence in a statement on Friday that the Appellate Court will uphold judgments consistent with Supreme Court pronouncements.
He urged members and supporters of the PDP in Plateau State to remain composed, emphasizing that those currently celebrating within their realm of deception will face the reality of their self-deceit when the Appeal Court delivers its rightful decisions regarding the tribunal judgments.
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Senator Mwadkwon pointed out that the Supreme Court’s judgment on the PDP’s suit concerning the nomination of President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the February 2023 presidential election, Kashim Shettima, was crystal clear regarding who possesses the right to challenge the nomination of political party candidates.
He reiterated that the Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that no political party can contest the nomination of another political party. He questioned how and why the tribunal could annul the election of legitimately elected National Assembly members on the grounds of invalid nominations due to a purported lack of party structure in the state.
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The Senate Minority Leader further asked, “Is it the state party structure that nominates candidates, or is it the national body of the political party?” He emphasized that the national body of the PDP, legally empowered to nominate candidates for elections, conducted the primary elections that produced their candidates.
Regarding the PDP’s structure in Plateau State, Senator Mwadkwon stated that the party had fully complied with the judgment of Justice S.P. Gang and conducted a repeat congress in September 2021, which was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.
He continued, “Consequently, the congress was affirmed by the Federal High Court’s judgment delivered by Justice D. V. Agishi in the case of Augustine Timkuk versus PDP. Furthermore, the judgment was unanimously affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Jos, in favor of the PDP in a ruling by Justice T. Y. Hassan, Justice I. A. Andenyangtso, and Justice O. O. Goodluck, delivered on February 11, 2023.”
Senator Mwadkwon expressed bewilderment at the tribunal’s basis for nullifying the elections of their duly elected National Assembly members, especially considering that one of the two panels of the National and State House of Elections Tribunal had dismissed the same ground on which the other panel had nullified the elections of their party members.
He concluded, “In whichever way one chooses to examine the judgments, they evidently defy logic and legal precedents and are certain to be nullified by the Appeal Court. Therefore, our people should remain calm, assured that those they have willingly elected will serve their terms and fulfill their electoral promises.”
