PLASIEC Stalls LG Elections Tribunal Proceedings, Fails To Furnish Tribunal With Result Sheets

 PLASIEC Stalls LG Elections Tribunal Proceedings, Fails To Furnish Tribunal With Result Sheets

By Moses Gbande

Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC,  on Thursday frustrated the onging proceedings in a case between Hon. Ubandoma Joshua Laven of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP challenging the victory of Hon. Kparnim Nanloh Amos as the elected Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council.

At the Plateau State Local Government Council Election Petition Tribunal Holden at West of mines Jos between the petitioner, Hon. Ubandoma Joshua Laven of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Kparnim Nanloh Amos, of the All Progressive Congress, APC and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission over the office of the Chairmanship of Langtang North LGC the Petitioner had closed his defense, as the defendants have prepared to open their defence.

Our Correspondent reports that a total of 38 witnesses testified during the hearing creating room fir the opening of defense by the first Defendant In the subsequent adjoins date. Unfortunately, the suffered another setback for non availability of polling units and wards result  sheets requested to be tendered for screenings 

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday 18th day of April, 2018, Counsel to the First  defendant, Barr Zulfa Rimven who sought that  the tribunal Chairman should adjourn  the  sitting to another date to enable him obtain results of polling units and wards results of Langtang North Local Government Council. 

According to him, the thursday seating was for the first respondent to open defenses, but to the greatest dismay the third respondent, which is THE PLASIEC has failed to make available thebresult sheets of the last local government election for vetting.

The Chairman  of  Plateau State Independent Electoral commission, PLASIEC Mr. Fibian  Ntung Ari ,  represented by the Secretary failed to provided the needed information required for the opening qof defense. 

Rimven explained that the absence of the 10th Oct 2018 polling units and wards collation results would affect his case so he has written to PLASIEC  to produce the wards, polling units for onward inspection. 

According to him, he understand that the matter Was for  the first respondent to open his defense, “we apply for Supina which has been  pushed and  applying for copies of polling units and wards results of Langtang North LGA. 

Zulfa told the tribunal that PLASIEC couldn’t make available to him due to  inability of the Chairman of Plateau State independent Electoral commission to furnish him with the details to be tendered before the Honourable tribunal,.

However, counsel to the 3rd respondence, Barr Sunday  Obende told the trial tribunal that  he didn’t object to the application. 

The Counsel to  PLASIEC  who is the Former  Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Chairman, Barr. Ledak Dafer also said no objections,  but explained that due to  the difficult process for the Chairman to go into the room to begin searching for the result sheets of Langtang North LGA, the Chairman order the secretary to do so when the the (secretary) is in court. 

The plaintiff counsel, Barr. Oguala Harrison  also didn’t object to the application  ,urging the defense counsel to ensure that he produce the needed documents to fast track speeding judgement without delay . 

Justice J. K Binjin however l adjourned the sitting to 24th April, 2019 for the first defendant, Hon Kparnim Nanloh Amos to open his defense.