The National and State Assembly Tribunal in Jos, Plateau state capital, has removed from office three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.
The affected legislators are Remvyat Nanbol, Agbalak Adukuchill, and Happiness Akawu, representing Langtang central, Rukuba/Iregwe, and Pengana constituencies in the state house of assembly.
This decision stems from the electoral challenge initiated by Dr. Nentawe Yiltwatda of the APC against the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, of the PDP.
Background
Governor Mutfwang was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 525,299 votes, defeating Yiltwatda, who received 481,370 votes.
However, Yiltwatda approached the tribunal challenging the outcome of the election.
During the ruling on Thursday in Plateau, the tribunal declared Daniel Ninbol Listic of the Labour Party (LP), Bako Ankala, and Yakubu Sanda of the APC, who all secured second place in their respective constituencies, as the new winners.
The panel, presided over by Justice Muhammad Tukur, determined that the ousted lawmakers were not validly sponsored by the PDP due to their failure to comply with a court order to conduct ward congresses and establish a valid party structure.
This, the tribunal reasoned, rendered the PDP incapable of endorsing candidates for the election.
Moreover, the tribunal upheld the petitioners’ right to challenge the PDP’s participation in the election.
As a result, the tribunal’s chairman ordered INEC to revoke the Certificates of Return issued to the removed lawmakers and reissue them to the newly declared winners.
It’s worth noting that this tribunal has previously ousted four PDP National Assembly members, including a senator, over party structural issues.
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