Plateau PDP sues electoral body over exclusion

The PDP is also challenging the state electoral umpire over the outrageous amount it charges for the purchase of nomination forms for the counsellor and chairmanship positions respectively.

The case was, however, adjourned to August 5, for hearing on the originating summon and the preliminary objection filed by PDP.

Counsel to PDP, Edward Pwajok (SAN), said his client is in court to challenge PLASIEC for organising election for chairman and counsellor in Plateau State by excluding PDP for participating in the election.

Pwajok described the action of the electoral umpire in the state as grossly wrong, undemocratic and a ploy to deny the people of Plateau State their fundamental human rights to choose who their leader would be, in the third tier of government.

He argued that it is unconstitutional, illegal and violates all the international norms that encourage voters to participate freely on the person to represent them either as chairman or counsellor.

The party PDP is seeking redress in court challenging that PLASIEC does not have such power to deny the voters their right to choose which person they want.

He described the action of PLASIEC as a barely conceived attempt to endorse a candidate from the ruling APC which he said should not be allowed to prevail in a democracy.

On the injunction by the PDP, Edward said it was for the court to restrain PLASIEC, the body saddled with the responsibility of presiding on election matters in the state, from conducting the state chairmanship and councillorship elections in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He stressed that the vacation Judge, Justice Ishaku Kinda, has promised that the case will be given an accelerated hearing, because of its sensitive nature, especially as it relates to the affairs of the state.