Plateau LGA Election Tribunal Commences Sitting On 77 Petitions Filed By Plateau PDP

Yakubu Busari

 

The Plateau State Local Government Election petition Trial Tribunal has commenced her pre-hearing of 77 petitions with councillorship has 69 petitions while the chairmanship has 8 petitions.  The People Democratic Party PDP urged the chief judge of Plateau state to constitute another second trial court to help fast-track the speedy dispensation of justice.

 

The Chairman of the LG Election Tribunal, Justice, Jovita Binjim at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal on Friday urged counsels to cooperate with the members of the tribunal considering the numerous petitions before the court with a time frame of 90 days to complete the task of speedy dispensation of justice can only be achieved with the cooperation of bar members.

 

Binjim assured them of free and fair to all parties but added that there will be no way; “we can go on within the time frame so I am asking you the litigants to refrain from unnecessary and technicality and argue best on the documents.

 

He promised that the pre-hearing session which has commenced they are going to sit on all days including Saturday as he asked counsels to always check the tribunal notice board for more information will be made available.

 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Barr Association, NBA, Chairman, Barr. Boniface Nkem appealed to all parties saying; “based on the petitions available to the tribunal members we task the members of the bar to constraint themselves strictly on their documents.

 

According to him, there is no how this tribunal can conclude her sitting within the 90 days given to them .this is going to be very difficult we commend the selection of the members of the tribunal who are men of integrity that are ready and prepared to write their names in the history of the judiciary.

 

“Indeed as a minister in the temple of justice I urge you to lubricate to rules and regulation as we all pledge to cooperate for the easy dispensation of the job but warn against an unnecessary delay.

 

Nkem said the problem of bringing in technicality won’t be allowed, “we are asking the tribunal to close her eyes on public opinions by standing firm on the issues of facts provided to them.

 

He added this tribunal should stand and stamped her feet down  so as not to allow some individuals take control of arbitration to take more time to address the court but to limit themselves if this is not done some of the petitions will not go through.

 

NBA reiterated that the tribunal should stamp its feet and restraint lawyers on hammering around issues because of the timing.

 

Sunday Odey congratulated the tribunal  as he said PDP has filed few petitions to challenge the outcome of the just concluded LG which they approach the tribunal adding that the exercise was marred by irregularities.

 

Odey said PDP had confidence in the selection of the members of the election tribunal knowing that PLASIEC new law is not going to deter them to claim their stolen mandate only when the facts before them is not truncated.

 

He pledged the loyalty to work with the tribunal adding that they  will not embark on unnecessary delay urged your lordship not to entertain technicality or keep wasting of tribunal time.