The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal of committing electoral fraud by transferring the Plateau South Senate seat from its members to their opponent. In a recent judgment, the tribunal declared former Governor Simon Bako Lalong, who contested the senatorial seat under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner and secured second place, as the winner.

Edward Pwajok (SAN), the legal representative of the All Progressives Congress, stated to reporters after the judgment that the court ruled the PDP ineligible to participate in the election due to its failure to conduct ward congresses as directed by a Jos High Court in 2021.

Rejecting the ruling, Chris Hassan, the PDP Chairman in Plateau State, held a press conference in Jos where he firmly rejected the judgment, deeming it an act of electoral manipulation and unacceptable to the PDP. He emphasized that the opposition party entirely rejected the verdict, asserting that it contradicted the will of the people. Hassan argued that the tribunal had made a mistake by basing its judgment in favor of the petitioners on the internal disputes within the PDP.

He said, “The judgment was an electoral robbery, which is unacceptable to the people of Plateau because it is contrary to the will of the constituencies, which was freely expressed via the votes we got in the election.

“The PDP watched with dismay and trepidation the nullification of the elections of our Senator representing Plateau South and House of Representatives Member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency.

“We reject the outcome of the judgment in its entirety because justice was not served, and it did not reflect the law and the interest of the majority of the people as freely expressed at the election.

“The judgment was an electoral robbery which is unacceptable to the people of Plateau because it is contrary to the will of the people of the constituencies which was freely expressed via the votes we got in the election”

Hassan further explained that the PDP had since complied with the judgment of Justice S.P. Gang and conducted a fresh congress, insisting that the Party currently has a solid and valid structure.

He noted that the Party would explore legal means to retain its mandate, adding that the judgment would not destroy its confidence in the judiciary.

He said, “In this case, the PDP had since complied with the judgment of Justice S. P. Gang through a repeat congress in September 2021 which was dutifully monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.

“This same congress was affirmed by the Federal High Court sitting Jos in a judgment delivered by Justice D. V. Agishi in the case of Augustine Timkuk versus PDP validating the state executive of the Party as duly elected.

“This same judgment was also unanimously affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Jos in favour of the PDP in a ruling by Justice T. Y. Hassan, Justice I. A. Andenyangtso and Justice O. O. Goodluck, delivered on 11 Feb. 2023.

“The fact remains that PDP has a valid and solid structure through which our mandate was given and we are optimistic that by the special grace of God, it will stand.

“This is because the same position was affirmed by the seven judgments of panel two of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal which is a sister panel to this one.”