Senator Pam Dachungyang     Mwadkwon



Plateau State Rerun Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Bauchi state High Court has fixed 17th may, 2024, as a date to commence proper hearing on petitions filed against Senator Pam Dachungyang Mwadkwon.

A three - man panel of the Tribunal lead by its Chairman, Hon. Justice Cordelia N.Ogadi, made this known on Friday, noting that the pre-hearing conference reports will be issue on 24th April, 2024.

Recalled, Tribunal was set up following the  Court of Appeal judgments sometime in November, 2023 which nullified elections of then Senator represented Plateau North Senatorial District, Simon Mwadkwon as well as former member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Musa Agah Avia.

The Appellate Court further ordered for a rerun elections in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted on 25th February, 2024.

However, the said elections saw the emergence of Pam Dachungyang Mwadkwon of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Daniel Asama Agoh of Labour Party (LP) as Senator Plateau North District and member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency respectively.

Having dissatisfied with the outcome of the said elections, Amb. Chris Musa Giwa of All Progressive Congress (APC) approached the Tribunal in suit number: EPT/PL/SEN/01/2024 while Hon. Yakubu Mohammed Shafiu candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in suit number: EPT/PL/SEN/02/2024, both are challenging the declaration of Pam Dachungyang Mwadkwon by INEC as winner of the Senate election.

Our correspondent observed that both petitioners and respondents Counsel adopted their preliminary objections before the Tribunal for onward consideration.

Barr. N.A.Tsuwa, counsel representing Amb.Giwa and APC (1st and 2nd petitioners) said they have filed dated 18-4-2024 and adopt the same written address as their argument on the petition, but seek the leave of the Tribunal to withdraw the last prayer of their objection.

In the second petition, counsel to Hon.Shafiu and NNPP (1st and 2nd petitioners), M.S.Salihu Esq told Tribunal that in response to the respondents brief, "we have filed on 17-4-2024, and we have filed counter affidavit same date accompanied by 5 paragraphs written affidavit, we adopt same as our argument to the Tribunal, urging your Lordships to dismissed the objection with substantial cost".

First respondent counsel,INEC, I.J. Okoro Esq, said their motion on notice dated and filed 16-4-2024 is accompanied by 4 paragraphs written address. We replayed on points of law filed and dated 18-4-2024. "We adopt both processes praying for Tribunal to grant this application."

S.T. Panwul Esq, 2nd and 3rd (Mwadkwon and ADP) counsel, revealed their motion on notice was dated and filed 16-4-2024 as the motion is accompanied by 9 paragraph affidavit, urging Tribunal to grant the application and dismissed petitioners case.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Tribunal, Hon.Justice Cordelia Ogadi, having heard the argument of both Counsel, held that the ruling on the applications will be deliver on the date of the judgment in accordance with the provisions of section 285 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.