Election Tribunal Declares Senator Jang Winner Of Plateau North Senatorial Election

 

Yakubu Busari

The Election Tribunal sitting in Jos, has declared the former Governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang as the duly elected senator representing Plateau North.

The petition was filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC ) candidate ,Mrs Ayisa Sambo  and its senatorial candidate in the just concluded Plateau North senatorial election in the state, challenging the victory of the former Governor of Plateau state ,Senator Jonah David Jang.

In his judgment of three hours thirty minutes ,Justice’s O.O Akeredolu dismissed the petition for lack of merit as the petitioner cannot prove her case before the honourable tribunal, on hearing into the  substantive suit, the three-man- panel of tribunal affirmed that People Democratic Party , and Ayisa Sambo’s  star witness couldn’t give clear knowledge where the petitioners based its argument.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O.O.Lanre Akeredolu ,  held that the star witness of the All Progressive Congress  and that of Ayisa has  failed to meet the standard required.

Counsel to Jang Mr Sunday Oyewole Esq  had informed  the tribunal that certain portions in   paragraphs 5,6, and 7 of  their witness, from Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC) statement on oath, contained  depositions that  are “animus and hostile” to their petitioners.

In his Judgment, Justice Akeredolu upheld the position of the defendant, saying that, “we have carefully examined the deposition of Principal Witness 2 and we are of the view that some of the paragraphs in the said deposition stands against the pleading of the petitioners, we, therefore, agree with the defendant counsel that it was right to treat pw2 as hostile witness for the purpose of being cross-examined by the petitioners counsel”.

Soon after the court declared the senator Jang the winner the state went agog with PDP loyalties.

He said he stood by the averments made in the depositions in his statement to the tribunal on oath, adding that the former Governor Jonah Jang   is the duly elected candidate Plateau North Senatorial election having polled the highest votes.

According to Garba Pwul and SS. Obende said, the subpoenaed order on the witness has not been vacated by the tribunal, adding that there are some documents that the witness needed to tender before the tribunal.

Obende and Pwul strongly opposed it saying, “the argument is grossly mischievous but waiting to hear whether to appeal which not clear.