- Petitions IGP over Plateau council seal
Following the continued sealing of the Langtang North Local Government secretariat by the Plateau State Police Command, some PDP groups within the state chapter of the Party, have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to call the state Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka to order.
The groups, in the petition, also demanded that he prevailed upon the state Commissioner of Police, CP Onyeka, to obey the rule of law with respect to the issue concerning the Chairmanship of Langtang North Local Government Area.
The petition, dated November 25, 2021, and signed by one Makshwar Kurmtok, as Chairman of the Coalition, was copied to the AIG of Police (Operations), the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Judicial Council (NJC), Falana’s Chamber, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Director-General, Department of State Security (DSS), the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, PDP National Chairman and the Plateau State PDP Chairman. Among its demands was a seven-day ultimatum for the Council Chairman, Laven Joshua Ubandoma, to be allowed to take over his office.
See Full Petition Below:
COALITION OF PDP SUPPORT GROUPS
PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER, No. 20/22 YAKUBU GOWON WAY, OPP NTA, JOS.
25th November, 2021.
Mr. Usman Alkali,
Inspection-General of Police,
Nigeria Police Force,
Lois Edet House,
Shehu Shagari Way,
Area 11 Garki, Abuja
CONSPIRACY BETWEEN PLATEAU STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT TO BAR LANGTANG NORTH LOCAL CHAIRMAN FROM GAINING ACCESS TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL SECRETARIAT.
The Coalition of PDP Groups’ in Plateau State comprise of 120 different registered groups with the State Party Secretariat at No 20/22 Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos, have signed this petition.
2018 LGC ELECTION
The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) Conducted Local Government Election in Plateau State on the 9th October, 2018 during the election, Hon. Laven Joshua Ubandoma of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won but one Nanloh Kparnim of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner at the elections conducted on 10th October, 2018.
Hon. Dr. Laven Joshua Ubandoma pursued his mandate at the Plateau State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed his petition.
However, Hon. Dr. Laven Joshau Ubandoma appealed to the Plateau State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal which set aside the judgment of the Plateau State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal and declared Hon. Dr. Laven Joshua Ubandoma as the Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council in a judgment delivered on 19th July, 2019.
The Governor of Plateau State finally swore our Client into office as Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council on 9th October, 2021 for a term of three years as provided for under section 38 (1) and (3) of the Plateau State Local Government Council Law, 2016.
The Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong finally swore Hon. Dr. Laven Ubandoma into office on the 9thOctober, 2019 to serve as the Council Chairman of Langtang North for three (3) years as provided for under section 38 (1) and (3) of the Plateau State Local Government Council Law, 2016 but to our greatest dismay, after two years in office, Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) conducted a kangaroo election for the office of Chairman of Langtang North LGC on 9th October, 2021.
2021 LGC ELECTION AND COURT JUDGEMENT
The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) announced the conduct of Local Government Election at the expiration of their three years in office. The Commission, instead of conducting Election in 16 LGAs they included Langtang North LGA.
As a law-abiding citizen, Hon. Dr. Laven Joshua Ubandoma approached the Plateau State High Court in Jos and he was reinstated through a declaratory judgment as the substantive Chairman of Langtang North LGC to complete his three-year tenure until 9th October, 2022.
The Court nullified any election conducted by PLASIEC when the case was still pending in Court and the office of Hon. Dr. Laven Ubandoma Joshua was not vacant. A motion to the High Court for injunction pending appeal was struck out by the Court but the State Government through the Plateau State Commissioner of Police has barred the Chairman from entering the Secretariat.
(Court judgement and order striking out the motion for injunction pending appeal are attached).
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE INTERFERENCE
On the 8th November, 2021 the Police took over the Council Secretariat of Langtang North under the instruction of the Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, despite Court judgment.
OUR REQUESTS
The Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka should withdraw the police from the Secretariat who are stopping Hon. Dr. Laven Ubandoma Joshua from working and provide security for him to work as ordered by the Court immediately.
The Commissioner of Police should be called to order and allow the rule of law to prevail.
The Council Chairman Hon. Laven Joshua Ubandoma within seven (7) days should be allowed to take over his office and perform his constitutional function as the office cannot remain vacant.
We shall protest with over thousands of our supporters and Jos is fragile if and only if impunity is allowed to reign
If our request is not made within seven days, we shall sue the Nigeria Police Force for act capable of deriding the rule of law and democracy.
CONCLUSION
We know our IG is a man of impeccable character and we do not want to take the laws into our hands because we know that you will preserve the rule of law in your time as the Inspection-General of Police and posterity will remember you.
Yours faithfully,
Sunday James
Chairman, Coalition of PDP Support groups
cc:
Nigerian Bar Association.
National Judicial Council.
Falana Chamber.
The Nigerian Senate.
Nigerian House of Representatives.
Director-General, DSS
PDP National Chairman.
Plateau State PDP Chairman.
