In a passionate response to the recent judgment handed down by the Plateau State Election Petition Tribunal, the People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard, a prominent pro-democracy organization in Nigeria, has decried what it calls “blatant corruption” and “judicial sabotage” of the electoral process.
The Tribunal’s verdict, which was related to the highly contested 2023 National Assembly election, recently upturned the election of some Lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Plateau state.
Emmanuel Zopmal, the leader of the People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard, expressed his concerns during a protest held at Secretariat Junction today, where youths from various parts of Plateau State had gathered. Zopmal emphasized the crucial role of the Election Petition Tribunal in ensuring fair and impartial resolution of electoral disputes, a role he alleges has been compromised by corruption and vested interests.
The national and state houses of assembly elections petition tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital earlier nullified the elections of four National Assembly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over lack of structure, In a unanimous judgment of the three-member panel, Justice Mohammed Tukur ruled that the PDP candidates in the state were invalidly nominated due to no party structure in the state.
Zopmal said the People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard has conducted an in-depth analysis of the Tribunal’s proceedings, uncovering a disturbing pattern of irregularities that cast doubts on the judgment’s integrity and impartiality. The organization claims that political interference and hidden agendas have led to contradictory decisions within the same Tribunal.
The principles of democracy are fundamental to a progressive society, and the People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard argues that Nigeria must uphold transparency and accountability to foster an environment where citizens’ voices are respected and valued.
In light of these concerns, the pro-democracy group is calling on the National Judicial Council and other anti-corruption agencies to take swift action by removing the Tribunal judges from Plateau State. They insist that the judiciary’s integrity must be safeguarded, and those involved in any form of corruption, whether judges, lawyers, or political actors, should face severe consequences for undermining the democratic process.
The People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard asserts that the People’s Democratic Party conducted its primary elections in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, including the use of a delegates system. They challenge the grounds on which the Tribunal disqualified duly elected members of the PDP, emphasizing that these issues had already been settled in the courts.
Additionally, the organization questions the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to challenge the candidacies of PDP members, urging transparency and fairness in electoral processes.
The People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard calls on Nigerian citizens, civil society organizations, and international entities to unite against corruption and demand justice. They argue that only by upholding the rule of law and ensuring transparent and fair elections can Nigeria’s democracy truly flourish.
In a final plea, the pro-democracy group calls for the immediate restoration of mandates for the elected House of Representatives and Senator Napoleon Bali, emphasizing the need to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They raise questions about the jurisdiction of the Plateau State National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in pre-election matters, emphasizing the need for clarity in this regard.
The lawmakers affected in the judgment so far are Peter Gyendeng representing Barkin-Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency; Musa Bagos representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency; Beni Lar representing Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency and Napoleon Bali, representing Plateau South Senatorial District.
Beneficiaries of the tribunal’s ruling are Fom Dalyop and Ajang Alfred Iliya of Labour Party for Barkin-Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency and Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency; Vincent Bulus Venman of APC for Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency and Simon Lalong for Plateau South Senatorial Seat.
The People’s Mandate Protection Vanguard, dedicated to promoting democratic values, transparency, and accountability, stands with Nigerian citizens in their quest for justice and urges a swift reversal of the contested judgment, with those responsible being held accountable for their actions.
