CSO Criticizes Election Petition Tribunal for Interfering in pre-election Matters

40970 taraba govship election apc failed because of unpopular candidate cso
40970 taraba govship election apc failed because of unpopular candidate cso

The Civil Society Coalition for Credible Elections (CIVSOCE) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the judgement of the Plateau State Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Beni Lar, the lawmaker for the Langtang North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Dr. Mahmud Nafiu, the Convener, Mr. Jonathan Yakubu, the General Secretary, and Aisha Adama Yamusa, the Director of Media, called for the reversal of the Tribunal’s judgement at the Court of Appeal.

Lar, who ran for a fifth term in the parliamentary polls held on February 25, contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was declared the winner with 42,008 votes.

However, the Tribunal nullified the election in a judgement delivered on August 12, 2023.

The CSO argues that the issue of candidate nomination, on which the panel of Justices based their judgement, falls under the category of pre-election matters as classified by the Electoral Act 2022, as amended.

Referring to Section 84(14) of the Electoral Amendment Act, the group emphasizes that “pre-election matters can only be filed and entertained in the Federal High Court.” They insist that the outcome of the judgement is a clear travesty of justice.

The CSO asserts that although a Tribunal holds a concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal High Court, it remains a Special Court as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. They note that if the term “Tribunal” is interpreted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act, it unequivocally refers to the word “panel.”

The group expresses confidence in the panel of Justices that constituted the Plateau Election Petition Tribunal and believes that the outcome of the Langtang North and South case may be one of those judicial errors that will be rectified at a higher Court.

“Without any political bias, the judgement nullifying the election of Beni Lar as the representative of Langtang North/South raises serious concerns, as it falls within the realm of pre-election matters.

“The Tribunal claimed that there was no proper Congress that produced Beni Lar as the House of Representatives candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We ask, what is the authority of a party that is responsible for nominating its candidate of choice? We are deeply concerned and earnestly urge the Court of Appeal to thoroughly review this case in order to dispense justice.”

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