The Plateau State Local Government elections will hold as scheduled on Saturday, as the Jos appellate Court dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) application for an injunction to stop the election.
PDP, through Edward Pwajok (SAN), its Counsel, had filed a motion before the Appellate Court looking for an injunction to stop the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) from conducting the polls awaiting the determination of its appeal against a High Court judgement that excluded the party from participating in the election.
The lead Judge of the Court of Appeal (COA), Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, dismissed PDP’s application on the ground that it failed woefully because of lack of diligent prosecution.
Oniyangi said, “The respondent (PLASIEC), had quoted section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as part of reasons why Saturday’s election must hold so as not to create a vacuum in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) but the appellant did not attack that.
“We should not be seen to be violating the constitution but to uphold it. Again looking at the current situation in Plateau, it’ll be unwise for us to add to it.
“Therefore, failure on the part of the applicant to address section 7(1) raised by the respondent, the application for an injunction is bound to fail and has woefully failed.”
The Judge, however, upheld and granted the first prayer seeking an order for accelerated hearing.
Oniyangi also dismissed the motion for an interim injunction.
The Judge then adjourned the case to November 22 for hearing.
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