The House of Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, has made a landmark decision by sacking the incumbent speaker of the state house of assembly, Honorable Moses Sule. The verdict, delivered on Friday, September 29, 2023, also affected Danjuma Azi, a member representing Jos North West constituency in the assembly.
The tribunal, headed by Justice Muhammad Tukur, declared Honorable Naanlong Daniel and Honorable Mark Na’ah, both members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the rightful winners of the March 18 election. This decision followed a petition challenging the eligibility of Sule and Azi to participate in the election, citing the lack of a party structure within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice Tukur emphasized that the PDP failed to meet the necessary criteria for sponsoring candidates due to its absence of a party structure. He notably remarked, "nothing can stand on nothing," highlighting the critical importance of a functioning party structure in the electoral process.
Furthermore, the tribunal revealed that the PDP had disregarded a court order issued by Justice S. P. Gang of the Plateau State High Court on November 26, 2020, which instructed the party to conduct ward congresses. This blatant disobedience of the court's order played a pivotal role in the tribunal's decision.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also came under scrutiny, as it failed to present any credible evidence supporting the PDP's claim of conducting congresses in 2021. This absence of documentation further bolstered the tribunal's decision against the PDP.
This landmark judgment marks a significant political shift in Plateau State, with the APC emerging victorious in these electoral disputes. It is worth noting that the Tukur-led panel had previously removed two other PDP lawmakers from the state assembly on Thursday, further reshaping the political landscape in the state.
As Plateau State grapples with the aftermath of this decision, political observers and stakeholders will undoubtedly closely monitor the implications and repercussions of this tribunal ruling on the state's political future.
