The APC Plateau State Chapter read with amusement and surprise, a Press Statement dated 12/9/2023 by Hon. Christopher Adukuchili Hassan, the State Chairman of the PDP concerning the recent verdicts of the National and State Assembly Tribunal delivered on Monday 11th September, 2023.
A statement made available to this medium and was signed Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary stated that
Hon. Hassan while reacting to the Tribunal judgment which sacked AVM Napoleon Bali (rtd) and Hon. Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng as Senator Representing Plateau South and Member Representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal respectively, sarcastically described the rulings as “electoral robbery”.
In a rather bizarre manner, he did not stop there but went ahead to malign and impugn the integrity and good image of the Judiciary and Tribunal Judges in a most contemptuous manner that sends wrong signals to our democratic norms and values. This brazen judicial sacrilege is unacceptable to us as a law-abiding Party.
Nevertheless, we are further appalled by the way and manner the Plateau State Chapter of the PDP has ignominously assumed the role of the Judiciary in interpreting the law, though most subjectively and inappropriately.
It is needless to comment here that, by these jejune legal opinions and latching on to some irrelevant cases in the face of the avalanche of court judgments against it at the Jos High Courts, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the PDP is only embarking on an exercise in futility.
By and large, we need not dissipate energy on highlighting these subsisting court judgements against the Plateau State PDP, for this would amount to flogging an already dead horse. We would rather, leave such matters to the Courts’ good sense of judgment. It is the duty of the Courts and not of political parties to interprete the law!
Furthermore, although we have been fully briefed by our capable team of lawyers, we wish to quickly remark that the judgments delivered by learned Justices B.M. Tukur, O. Elekwa and A.O. Adetujoye on Monday 11th and 12th September 2023 are not only resounding, but are also a correct interpretation of the law based on facts and evidence before the Tribunal. These landmark verdicts have, no doubt, addressed the electoral fraud perpetrated by the PDP during the 2023 general elections.
To say the least, Justice has indeed been served, hence it is a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
As a law-abiding Party, the APC in Plateau State, believes in the sanctity of the Judiciary as the hallowed temple of Justice and the rule of law. We therefore, advise the PDP to exercise its constitutional right of appeal if it feels dissatisfied, rather than threatening to blow off the roof with their old familiar lamentation of “democracy is in danger” whenever judgment is delivered otherwise.
At this juncture, we wish to equally condemn the statement credited to AVM Napoleon Bali (rtd) in an interview granted on Tuesday 12th September 2023 on Arise TV where he tried to raise false alarm of violence and unrest in the Plateau South in wake of his sack as Senator by the Tribunal.
To the contrary, there are still mass jubilations going on in Plateau South in celebration of the Tribunal’s verdict. Such joyous celebration actually mirror the aspirations and expectations of the teeming Constituents of the Senatorial District.
AVM Bali’s combative and adversarial, but preposterous posture, therefore portends grave security implications for the current fragile peace in the State which we call on the security agencies to take note.
Meanwhile, we once again, cheerfully congratulate H.E. Simon Bako Lalong, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, who has been declared as Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District.
We also heartily congratulate H.E Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and Hon. Prince Vincent Venman Bulus, former Member of the Plateau State House of Assembly and former Chairman of Langtang South for emerging victorious at the Tribunal yesterday.
While we, as usual, implore our teeming members and supporters to continue to remain calm and peaceful, we must conclude that no amount of diversionary and self-consolatory interpretation of the Tribunal’s verdicts will cure the incurable defect of the PDP which has more to do with its flagrant disrespect to court orders and lack of valid structure for sponsorship of its candidates.
The PDP should stop blackmailing and distracting the Tribunal from performing its role of adjucating and arbitrating in electoral matters which as we have always stated, is part of the electoral process.
