Respite came the way of the of Peoples Demcratic Party, PDP in Plateau state, following the landmark judgement delivered by a high court judge, Justice P. S Gang.
In a judgement delivered Thursday in favor of the JT Used’s group who were in court challenging alleged undemocratic manner being perpetrated by Sen. Jang’s factional group in handling the affairs of the party under the leaderdhip of Yakubu Choji, eventually secured judgement.
The Court, in a three hours judgement the judge after going through the arguements and submissions entered for determination, by both sides, ordered for fresh conduct of election by nullifying the PDP Congress as null and void .
It will recall that the General Timbut Useni led faction regained recognition warning the National Secretariat not to exclude any aspirants vying for elective positions in Plateau state .
However, the State chapter of the PDP has on thursday witness historic milestone in the battle to entrench integrity, credibility,sanity and constitutionality through the courts,the boost was from a judgement secured by Plateau State PDP EXCO Aspirants in one of the cases in the State High Courts.
In a three hours landmark judgment earlier today, His Lordship Justice Samson Gang agreed with the defendants that the National Executive Committee acted properly by appointing a State Caretaker Committee as provided for in the PDP Constitution. He reasoned however, that the tenure of the State Caretaker Committee cannot be extended beyond 90 days and that as contestants to the PDP state congresses, the defendants were not eligible to act as State Caretaker Committee to preside over elections to offices to which they were interested party,that it was against the principles of natural justice that one should not be a judges in his own cause.
The judge observe that there was neither a screening committee nor a screening appeal committee to enable the plaintiffs ventilate their grievances,a fundamental constitutional functions which was wrongly absorb by the caretaker committe and there was nothing to show that the result of the screening exercise was announced and a copy prominently displayed at the state secretariat of the party as provided in the party Guidelines for the Conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and National Convention for the Purpose of Electing Party Executive Committees at all levels issued in January 2020.
Therefore the Judge issued an order directing PDP (the 1st Defendant) to take all steps and actions to conduct State Congress in accordance with the combined provisions of Section 223(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 85(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), Article 49(1) of the Constitution of Peoples Democratic Party and Paragraphs 5.2 – 5.5 of the of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He awarded a cost of N2,000,000.00 (two million naira only) in favour the plaintiffs”State PDP Aspirants”
By now, it should be clear to all why 40 Peoples Democratic Party EXCO aspirants boycotted the charade of August 29 2020.
This judgement should serve as lesson on excessive use of power by leaders of political parties against followers.
The pain and humiliation this aspirants went through can’t just be allowed to consume the next generation of political class.
In the meantime, the keadership of the party has says, “We must not necessarily be beneficiaries of this struggle but for those coming behind us will have a level playing grounds to express their political sagacity without molestation as we witness.
“We wish to assure our supporters across the state for our readiness to pursue this injustice to it’s logical conclusion no matter the pains envolved and to plead that you remain calm and law abiding./”.
Nasarawa Reporters 