Following the public outcry over the conflicting judgements delivered by the Court of Plateau that invalidated the mandate of National Assembly members on pre-election issues, the National Youths Movement (NYM) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review the recent judgments to restore the confidence of Plateau people on the judiciary.
The Chairperson of the Movement, Miss Sele Prama who led the protest across major streets in Jos said the youths were out to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the Court of Appeal judgments which mortgage the popular will of the people.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, sacked two Senators and four members of the House of Representatives from the state on account of lack of compliance to court order.
Prama, who faulted the judgments,
argued that the call for the review became necessary because the grounds used by the appellate court to sack the lawmakers were “purely pre-election matters” that has been addressed by the Supreme Court.
She further explained that the judgements had also robbed Plateau people of quality representation at the national level.
”We are here today first as Plateau citizens and members of the PDP national youth movement to express our displeasure with recent judgments of the appeal court that sacked some of our lawmakers
”We view it as an injustice meted on our party and it has also denied Plateau people quality representation at the national levels. It is sad that the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man, has allowed the politicians to use it as mere tools to achieve their selfish desires.
”We have come out not to be violent, but to seek redress and to specifically call on the NJC to take more serious look on these judgments and review them to provide justice for Plateau people.”
Prama also called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to also wade into the matter being a daughter of the state.
Speaking also, Mr Dang Choji, a PDP official in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, insisted that the PDP has valid structure.
He insisted that the party dully complied with the directives of the court and repeated its congress after the first one, adding that the recent appeal court judgments are mere a conspiracy to subvert the will of the people.
”I participated in the first and the repeated congress of our party; the whole world should know that PDP repeated its congresses as directed by the court.
”The PDP constitution provides that two-third majority of delegates can participate in a congress and that’s what happened. Over 2,000 delegates participated in the repeated congress which is more than two-third of the total number. Only about 120 didn’t participate.
”So, I see a serious conspiracy against the collective will of the people by few individuals, but we will not accept this injustice aimed at robbing us of our mandates,”choji said.
He insisted that the youths would continue to occupy major streets in the state to demand for justice from the NJC and all relevant stakeholders.
Also speaking, Mr Victor Meshach, a member of NYM, called on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the matter.
He maintained that the issue of structure is hinged on nomination of candidates, adding that only a member of the party could challenge such move.
”If we allow politics to control the dictates of the law, there will arise injustice in the nation. Unfortunately, that is our current situation in Plateau. The law is clear but the basis used by the appellate court to deliver these judgments is ambiguous
”In other states, issues around candidates’ emergence were treated as pre-election matters and dismissed. The case of Plateau should not be different. It unfortunate that the appeal court listened to their prayers even when they are not members of the PDP.
”And so we are calling on the President to use his ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, which simply means hope for every Nigerian, irrespective of political inclination, to address our concerns,”he called.
It would be recalled that youths from Plateau’s 17 Local Governments staged a peaceful protest in Jos on Wednesday while the Muslim community in Jos had the same on Thursday where they all called on the NJC to review the judgments on Plateau elections.
