From Yakubu Busari, Jos
The Plateau State Local Government Election Trial Tribunal sitting in Jos Division on Wednesday held its inaugural sitting at West of mines, Jos.
Addressing the counsels and petitioners during the sitting, Mr Zakkah Dung , Chairman of the tribunal promised to treat every petition on its merits .
Dung also noted that they were on oath to ensure justice at all times and would , therefore adhere to that to prove that the judiciary was indeed the last hope of the common man .
The Chairman, who said the tribunal had 20 petitions to look into , sought for the cooperation of the counsel to petitioners to enable it to dispense with all matters within the stipulated time.
He said the commission received petitions on six (6) Local Government Chairmanship and 19 Councillorship to handle .
The Tribunal commence hearing on the complaints filed by opposition political parties and their candidates, challenging the Chairmanship and Councillorship seats
Some of opposition candidates with their parties that have filed their petitions within 21 days of PLASIEC announcing the results of the results on October 9th , to challenge the outcome, include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Wase , Kanam, Qua’anpan, Jos North,Jos South, others.
The petitioners allege PLASIEC non-compliance with the Electoral Act as well as other fraudulent practices by Chairman of the PLASIEC and his agents during the election.
The panel which said that while the template for adjudicating on the various petitions will be reeled, out pledged to be transparent to all aggrieved parties and the tribunal promised to be sitting on Monday to Sunday if the need arise .
The Chairman , Dungs tasked the media practitioners, counsels to be professional in their conduct .
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria Bar Association, Chairman, Bukuru Branch, S.T.Ahile Esq called on the critical stakeholders to assist the tribunal saddle with the responsibility of discharging justice to cooperate with them towards quick dispensation of justice according to guidelines rules .
He assured the tribunal Chairman of offering them maximal cooperation and also be history of justice delivering.
Senior Members of the Bar represented by Sunday Gabriel Odey emphasized on the need to determine and dispense justice to all within the shortest time.
According to him, they’re going to ventilate their clients grievances inline with the 2024 repellent laws by admonishing his colleagues to meet the tribunal dateline .
Odey who congratulated the tribunal members for their appointment added,
” You know that the election trial tribunal is one of the tedious work that disconnect you from the fellowship with your own family and exercise is so generic but we promised to cooperate by doing their very best.
Also Sunday Oyawole , stressed that the electoral laws should be strengthen to give democracy a better name of practice.
He tasked the Chairman of the Plateau State tribunal to follow what the law says and avoid technicalities.
“We must do the needful to protect electoral laws,” adding that the penal should continue to ensure that laws are follow while the two to three petitioners enjoy their cooperation to know that the results declared at the polling units tally with the fact .
