Hours to Governorship Judgement: Tribunal sacks 3 PDP lawmakers in Plateau

The National and State Assembly Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau state capital, has sacked three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

The lawmakers include Remvyat Nanbol, Agbalak Adukuchill, and Happiness Akawu, representing Langtang Central, Rukuba/Iregwe, and Pengana constituencies in the State House of Assembly.

The judgment was given on the eve of the ruling on the March 18 governorship election in the state.

Delivering judgement, the panel led by Justice Muhammad Tukur ruled that the sacked lawmakers were not legally sponsored by the PDP in view of the fact that their refusal to obey court orders to conduct ward congresses that would enable it have a valid structure.

Read Also: Police exhume Mohbad’s corpse, arrest nurse

Tukur added that the PDP lacked structure and therefore could not sponsor candidates for an election.

The tribunal further explained that the petitioners had the locus standi to challenge the participation or inclusion of PDP in the election.

The chairman of the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Certificates of Return from the sacked lawmakers and issue new ones to the winners of the election.

Read Also: Tribunal dismisses NYSC certificate forgery allegation against Enugu gov, Mbah

It could be recalled that Dr. Nentawe Yiltwatda, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, is challenging the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who contested under PDP.

The Independent National Electoral Commission Mutfwang declared the winner of the poll after polling 525,299 votes beating Yiltwatda, who polled 481,370 votes, but the APC candidate went to court.

Read Also: Edo: Shaibu begs Obaseki for forgiveness

The tribunal had earlier sacked four PDP National Assembly members, including a senator, over party structure.