From Yakubu Busari,Jos
A group in Plateau State has raised the alarm over alleged plan by political parties to influence judgement of the tribunal sitting on the Plateau North Senatorial District and Jos North /Bassa Federal Constituency rerun poll.
On hearing that the Tribunal sitting has been moved to Bauchi State for undisclosed reasons, the group stated that apart from creating fear and tension among the people, “more alarming are allegations in the public space of attempts by certain leaders of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to compromise the judiciary with heavy financial inducement and to orchestrate trumped-up allegations of impropriety against judicial officers.
According to the spokespersons of the group, Jonathan Ishaya and Nehemiah Pam Ayuba in a press release on Saturday in Jos, there were indications that the NNPP and PRP are plotting to undermined the hitch free rerun elections held in Plateau North to favor their own candidates in spite of the free and fair atmosphere within which the supplementary elections were carried out.
They alleged there are clear attempts to influence the tribunal judgement in favour of the NNPP candidate for the Senate and that of PRP, Abdullahi Goni.
However, they did not provide evidence to back their allegation but they reiterated that the petition challenging Senator Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang’s victory on the basis of change of name in 1995 at the Federal High Court, Lagos as forgery, is mischievous and wicked.
The concerned group explained further that Sen. Pam.D. Mwadkon’s integrity was unquestionable as he had been a staff of Union Bank of Nigeria before his retirement and also as a teacher in GSS Riyom.
Mr Jonathan claimed that, “More alarming are allegations in the public space of attempts by certain NNPP, PRP leaders to compromise the judiciary with heavy financial inducement and to orchestrate trumped-up allegations of impropriety against judicial officers,”
The separate spokespersons challenged leadership of NNPP and PRP to speak up concerning on the allegations if they are not guilty.
“The concerned Plateau group calls on the NNPP and PRP and its leaders to immediately come clean and publicly address Nigerians and the world on these disturbing allegations and revelations which are already in the public domain.”
Mr Jonathan Ishaya, also refuted claims of over voting in Kabong, Tudun Wada ward where some electorate were about to be disenfranchised before the Plateau state REC swiftly intervened and ordered for extension of time to resume voting in 300 polling units amounting to 15,590 voters.
They noted that the continuous intimidation of youth is evidence that Plateau people do not want the opposition government controlled them.
“The alleged planned onslaught by PRP and NNPP leaders on eminent citizens and our democratic institutions, including the Judiciary, stems from NNPP and PRP ’s apprehensions given the weight of evidence against them as well as the continuing refusal by majority of Plateau People to accept anything less than the popular mandate they freely gave to Senator Pam Mwadkon and Hon. Asama.
“There are apprehensions in the public space, having regards to the reputation of certain individuals within the highest level of the NNPP and PRP who have demonstrated capacity and proclivity to compromise democratic institutions in our dear state.
“Further to this is the provocative resort by the NNPP and PRP and its leaders to threaten citizens with treason for speaking out against the manipulations of our democratic processes removal of sitting to Bauchi State”
“For emphasis, majority of Plateau stakeholders are calling for the return of the rerun election tribunal to Jos or Abuja because results from the Polling Units were a true reflection of the people’s votes instead of allocation of fictitious figures to the NNPP and PRP and brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC Manual and Guidelines by INEC itself in its declaration of a winner of the election.”
The statement also applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ” for refusing to soil its hands with ill gotten wealth.”
Contacted, Spokesperson of the PRP, Shafiu Yakubu simply said,” you are most welcome, but there’s no need for reacting to this allegation for now. Thanks for your concern. ” His NPPP counterpart couldn’t be reached.
