From Yakubu Busari,Jos
A Federal High sitting in Jos, Plateau State has delivered judgement in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party and Hon Nansel Lakai in a suit filed by Hon. Jacob Dashe and others ,seeking the cancellation of Ward, Local Government, State and National congresses for the 12 federal wards re-election held in Wase Local Government. The congresses were held on March 20, 2020
Lakai, Returning Officer for the Wase LG congresses was 1st defendant while the PDP was the second defendant in the suit.
The Judge, Justice Dorcas Agishi who also abandoned the plaintiffs prayer while delivery the judgment, said all the documents presented by the plaintiffs were not certified from INEC .
The issue for determination raised by the plaintiffs was whether they have a loco standi to raise the issue regarding the guidelines issued by the for second defendant for wards down to national congresses.
Hon Jacob Dashe had approached the Federal High Court as a result of the fallout of the party congresses in Wase LGA, Plateau state, North Central Nigeria.
The plaintiffs counsel, Johnbull Mahwel Esq, presented a motion calling on the court to set aside the 12 federal wards congress conducted in Wase LGA
Before delivering judgment, Hon. Justice Dorcas Agishi expressed dismay by warning the PDP state legal officer. Barr Bingchen Jantur to stop bastardizing the suit and delaying the Bar
However, counsel for the defendants, Bitrus Dung Esq, told the court that he got a brief on the case on Wednesday, November 11, adding that the counsel that was handling the case withdrew from the matter and pleaded with the court for more time.
Relying on subsection 1&3 of the1999 Constitution as amended and on section 49 subsection (1),(3) and (4) and of PDP 2012 amended Constitution, the Judge said the second defendant, the PDP, conducted wards, LG, state and zonal congresses and the defendant was not under any obligation to any party to the issue.
The plaintiffs were asking for the nullification of the Congresses held in Wase LGA but the judgment upturned the their prayer by insisting that all documents they presented before the honourably court weren’t certified from the appropriate authorities to aid their matter.
In his reaction to the judgement, state PDP legal officer, Barr Bingchen Jangtur said “you know today’s judgment pronounced no winner or looser because this is a family affair so there is not need to celebrate the victory.”
