By Daniel Dauda, Jos


A High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State capital has on Wednesday dismissed a suit filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) for lack in merit.

Earlier, the Claimant (PDP) have approached and pray the court to grant a relief of an order of injunction to stop the Defendant (PLASIEC) from conducting the up coming October 9, 2021, Local Government elections in the state as they were excluded.

The claimant counsel, PDP is led by Edward Pwajok, SAN, as that of PLASIEC is champion by Garba Pwul, SAN.

PDP described PLASIEC action as unlawful, unconstitutional and Malicious  as they refused to send it's officers to supervise their party's primaries elections and also not grant access to nomination forms for chairmanship and Counsellorship aspirants in the 17 LGA.

The Defendant (PLASIEC) said the decision to refused claimant (PDP) participation in the upcoming October 9, 2021 Local Government elections was in consideration of the court judgment delivered by justice S.P. Gang. 

You could  recall a suit PLD/304/2020 judgment delivered by S.P. Gang between Hon. Bitrus Kaze and eleven others versus PDP and eleven others restrict the Caretaker committee of PDP on the Plateau from conducting any party affairs unless the executive members of the party were elected.

PLASIEC opines that going by the said judgment which is null and void they are constraint to allowed PDP to participate LG elections in the state.

While delivering judgment on the matter having listen submission of both parties involved, the presiding judge, Justice Ishaku Kunda stated that " orders of Court of competent jurisdiction are meant to obey.

"The Claimant refused to complied with court order. Therefore I dismissed the petition for lack in merit."

Justice Kunda also ordered the Claimant to pay defendant the sum of N2.5 million as damage and other expenses.

Speaking on the judgment, the acting  chairman of All Progressive Congress, APC, Plateau State, Mr. Enoch Fanmak said their optimistic as the court decision is a well development.

Fanmak believed the party will emerge magnanimous in victory on the 9th October, 2021 Council elections.

Edward Pwajok,SAN, PDP Counsel bemoaned the court judgment said they are going to appeal.

"We're going to appeal the judgment because we're not satisfied with court decision.

"As law abiding citizens we obeyed the court decision but we're going to appeal the judgment for review because we believe this is not the right judgment.

"We appeal to PDP family to remain calm and optimistic.

However, our correspondent learned that the court judgment come to the fora few days after Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party conducted their congress which saw the emergence of Hon. Chris Hassan as the state Chairman alongside other executive members.