APC, PDP Goes Spiritual, As Anxiety, Tension Grips Both Ahead Of Plateau Tribunal Judgment Tomorrow
- Tight security everywhere
There is anxiety and disquiet within the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, as the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State, is set to deliver its judgement tomorrow.
The three-man tribunal, headed by Justice Johnson Candide, which began sitting in May, in respect of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of PDP, Senator Gyang Pwajok , challenging the victory of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of APC, has notified the two parties of its readiness for judgement.
In the governorship election, Lalong polled a total of 564, 913 votes, to defeat his closest challenger, Senator Gyang Pwajok of the PDP, who scored 520 627, winning by a margin of 44, 386 votes.
Apparently dissatisfied with outcome of the election, Senator Pwajok had dragged the winner and the APC to the governorship tribunal alleging that the election was marred by rigging, corruption and malpractices.
Sunday Tribune learnt that since the two parties received notice through their respective lawyers that the tribunal had reserved judgment for the gubernatorial election for Monday both the APC and PDP had retrieved into their shells and resorted to prayers for divine intervention.
Findings revealed that most top APC government officials and PDP stalwarts on the Plateau could not be reached on their cellphones at the weekend, as they were at various locations within the state capital passionately praying for a favourable outcome.
It was further learnt that prayer warriors were imported from the neighbouring states to complement those on ground for the spiritual exercise to wade off the tide and give them favourable judgement.
To forestall the breakdown of law and order, heavy security, mounted by a plethora of armed policemen, operatives of the Department of the State Security Service (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), including those on an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), have been deployed in the vicinities of the venue of the sitting of the tribunal ahead tomorrow’s judgement.
A source close to the police told Sunday Tribune that vehicular and pedestrians movements within 60 meters radius of the High Court, the venue of the Tribunal sitting would be restricted on Monday.
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
