PDP Vs PLASIEC : How Fresh Move By Pwul, SAN, Stalls Hearing Of Substantive Matter

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC, on Thursday instituted a fresh motion calling on the court to stop the proceedings of a suit brought by the People Democratic Party, PDP, challenging their exclusion from the purported plan to prevent their candidates in the forthcoming Local Government election.

 

Barr. Edward G. Pwajok, SAN, told journalists that the motion for the adjourning of the proceedings after the vacation to us was brought out in bad faith because they know and we told the court that PLASIEC has fixed the LG election for October 2021.

 

He said, “if you’re saying the matter should be adjourned maybe towards the end of September that meant that they want to consolidate their decision to exclude PDP from the conduct of the election “.

 

Pwajok, SAN, says now the question that should be asked is PLASIEC, not supposed to be independent? and are they not supposed to be neutral. This doesn’t show neutrality for them to asking for an adjournment until after the vacation.

 

He explained further that what are they doing now because as a matter of fact, they have engaged the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, so is not for PLASIEC that is going to be arguing the matter in court so why are afraid that they don’t want the matter to be heard.

 

Adding, they have engaged the services of a lawyer to allow them the handle the work approximately and that is why we are happy with the court for giving us a short adjourn date.

 

He stressed that if PLASIEC thinks this is their delay tactics we help them, they can run but they cannot hide, we most argued this matter, considering that PLASIEC is a government agency, they’re supposed to represent the people of Nigeria as they’re funded by the people of Nigeria which is including you and I not answerable to another masquerade somewhere.

 

According to him,” Let them know that they are supposed to be a neutral body, but what they’re doing now they are showing that they are part of the players they demonstrate that they are the referee.

 

He called on Nigerians to see independent of PLASIEC that what they’re doing now is rubbishing the neutrality and content of independent.

 

Chief Garba Pwul, SAN, disclosed that there wasn’t any application moved in court today, but due to the fact that we have filed an application seeking the judge not to sit in this matter again during vacation why because this matter is not for vacation judges.

 

We said the matter can be heard under normal court proceedings which had the right to entertain the suit, however, the vacation is main for both lawyers, Bar and inner bar, and jurist to embark on a holiday to rest.

 

Pwul,SAN, emphasized that is why we drew the attention of your lordship to the fact that this case should not be entertain during vacation and court proceedings matters are done through filing processes.

 

We can file a motion during vacation, but this is not for vacation matter, therefore, they should adjourn the matter beyond the vacation period to deal with the matter on merit.

 

The plaintiff, in this case, the PDP needs to respond to what over we do in court it a balance are fair hearing so they needed to study our motion with the view of replying to it .

 

The judge in his wisdom said we should come back on the 11th August 2021 to argue that motion where he would determine the day, whether this vacation matter or not before the hearing of PDP against PLASIEC.

 

 

Counsel to the petitioner, Barr. E.G Pwajok told the court that the matter was adjourned today for hearing on two issues, the preliminary objection and originating surmount.

 

He told the court that they’ve filed their further and better application which is attached with affidavit and a written address all join together.

 

However, counsel to the respondent, G.S.Pwul confirmed that they’ve been served with complainant preliminary objection on the substantive, originating surmount but base on understanding they have file and exchange arguments were they receive this morning.

 

Pwul,” we have filed our counter application waiting to be a move which is accompanied with a written address “.