PDP calls for Disbandment of Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel Over Conflicting Judgments

PDP Demands Disbandment of Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel Over Varying and Conflicting Judgment, demanding Review of Judgements, Petitions NJC.

We are writing to you today as respected members of the press to alert the people of Nigeria and the international community to a troubling trend of inconsistent and even contradictory judicial pronouncements by the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel sitting in Abuja, which threatens to undermine Democracy and the expressed Will of the people of Plateau State in the 2023 National Assembly Elections.

Anarchy, chaos, and the breakdown of Law and Order in the already tense Plateau State are all possible outcomes of the Plateau Appeal Court Panel’s disturbing pattern, which poses a clear and present danger to our democratic process, national peace, and stability.

It has been widely reported that the people of Plateau State are unnerved by claims that the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel has been massively compromised and induced by the failed All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State to undermine the Will of the people by snatching elections clearly won by the PDP and awarding same to the APC.

What accounts for the Appeal Court Panel’s flagrant departure from the judicial norm that cases presenting identical issues and being heard by the same court at the same material period should have the same result?

Biased judgments manifestly slanted against the PDP in favor of the APC were issued by the Panel in electoral appeals with the same subject matter, same facts, similar circumstances, and the same applicable laws.

You may be aware that in the 2023 general election, Plateau State voted overwhelmingly for the PDP and against the APC.

Despite the obvious similarities in facts, circumstances, and applicable laws, the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel rendered diverse and contradicting verdicts in Appeals before it. This was clearly done to aid the APC in its plans to rob our Party of victory.

Worse still, the Court ruled that the election must be redone in every case where the PDP won and the APC placed third, and in every case where the APC placed second, the Court ruled that the Certificate of Return issued to the winning PDP candidate must be revoked and a new Certificate of Return issued to the APC’s runner-up.

In its ruling in Court of Appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/SEN/12/2023 given on May 8, the Panel ruled that PDP senatorial candidate Simon Mwadkwon had properly won the Plateau North senatorial district.

On Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, for some reason, PDP’s victory was overturned and a new election was mandated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Panel’s decision in Court of Appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/HR/14/2023, handed down on Friday, October 27, 2023, nullified the PDP’s victory in the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and mandated a new election in which the PDP did not participate.

The Appeal Court Justices in Court of Appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/HR/18/2023 revoked the Certificate of Return issued to the victorious PDP candidate and issued a new one to John Dafwan of the APC in the third Appeal Case of Shendam/Quaan-Pan/Mikang Federal Constituency, previously won by Hon. Isaac Kwallu of the PDP with John Dafwan of the APC as runner-up.

The Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel judgements has heightened tension in Plateau State and is capable of triggering a serious crisis as the people believe that the Appeal Panel is on a paid mission to take away the mandate which they freely gave to the PDP candidates at the elections and illegally awarding them to the APC.

These inconsistent rulings by the same Panel of Justices has the consequence to profoundly impugn on the integrity of the Appeal Court and the Institution of the Judiciary even as it further looks to lend weight to charges of enticement by the APC.

The decisions of the Election Appeal Court Panel in Plateau State have the potential to inflame passions and lay the stage for a crisis in the state, and they also have the potential to throw the Judiciary into public disrepute.

The people of Plateau State have lost faith in the integrity and impartiality of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel as currently constituted, and the situation poses important challenges that must be addressed promptly.

Considering the foregoing, the PDP, representing the hopes and dreams of the people of Plateau State, has made the following requests:

1. The Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel be promptly dissolved by the President of the Court of Appeal.

The current panel of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court has exhibited evident bias to excessively favor the APC candidates, hence it is recommended that a new panel be formed to hear the remaining Appeals. The people of Plateau State will view the ongoing use of the current Election Appeal Court Panel as insensitive and unfair.

3. A judicial review of the already-delivered judgments of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel in the Appeals, which have been shown to be plainly biased and contradictory.

In the meantime, the PDP has directed our attorneys to initiate the process of filing a formal complaint with the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the unprofessional behavior allegedly displayed by the panel of judges on the Plateau State Election Appeal Court.

To protect and defend the Will as expressed in the elections, the PDP has urged its members, crucial stakeholders, supporters, and the people of Plateau State to remain calm while remaining on high alert.

Many thanks for bearing with us.