Plateau LG Poll: PDP Vows To Challenge Exclusion At Court Of Appeal
The Plateau chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to continue to challenge its exclusion from the Oct.9 local government elections at the Court of Appeal.
Mr John Akans, PDP State Public Secretary, stated this on Monday in Jos while addressing newsmen.
It would be recalled that the Plateau State Independent Election Commission (PLASIEC) had barred the opposition PDP from the poll, following some internal crises in the party.
The party challenged its exclusion at the state High Court but lost and were at Appeal Court seeking to stop the election from holding on Oct. 9 but also lost.
“As a party that respects the rule of law, we are pursuing our course to participate in the local government elections at the Court of Appeal.
“We expect that PLASIEC would have waited for the decision of the court of appeal on this matter,”Akans said.
According to him, it is the duty of the PDP to ensure that the local government election was conducted fairly in the interest of the people who deserved a voice in governance without exclusion.
He emphasised that what was done on Saturday could best be described as the appointment of APC cronies and not an election.
“So we advice those declared by PLASIEC as winners not to celebrate because they were not elected by the people but rather appointed by despotic leadership.
“This scam will lead to nowhere, as Plateau people cannot be scammed again”.
Meanwhile, the PDP has called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to without delay, and in line with the provision of the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act to fix a date for the by-election of Jos North / Bassa f Federal Constituency.
“INEC should come out and tell Plateau why it’s yet to fix a date for the conduct of this election having lost the member representing that constituency over six months ago.
“PDP will not hesitate to take legal action against INEC if it fails to fix a date for the election because Jos North/Bassa people are left without a representative for the past six months.
“INEC has gone beyond the required time to conduct the election as done in other federal constituencies,” he added.
He assured and encouraged PDP supporters and the entire people of Plateau, that PDP was doing everything possible within the ambit of the law to salvage democracy and Plateau from the hands and shackles of political marauders.
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