Plateau PDP Crisis: Court Sacks Hon Chris Hassan EXCO, Orders For Fresh Congresses 

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Yakubu Busari

A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Thursday sacked the Hon Chris Hassan led Exco while it nullified the congresses conducted by Hon Yakubu Chocho caretaker committee describing the Congress as illegal lacking in merit under the law of natural justice.

 

Justice P.S.Gang while delivering judgment on a suit filed by the Former Member Representing Jos South /Jos East Federal Constituency challenging their exclusion and calling them noncard carriers of the PDP.

 

The judgment read that for the national Secretariat to reappointed the Hon Yakubu Chocho into the caretaker committee to conducts screening for themselves as an illegal unconstitutional base on section 223 of the federal republic of Nigeria amended and section 25(a) of PDP guidelines for the conduct of wards, LGs, and state congresses stipulated.

 

The judgment explained further that the PDP exco whose tenure expired on the 6th of June 2020 after four years then sometimes in July presented a purported letter claiming to be sent by the PDP National Secretariat and they are also aspirants for the various positions from 2nd -25th defendants as they constituted themselves into a caretaker committee to enable them to rig election in their favor and denied other aspirants that is unconstitutional.

 

According to the judgment, the PDP national Secretariat has the right to the extent of the tenure of exco but that should be done by a neutral exco that can screen and ensure credibility and transparency in the entire exercise.

 

His statement said if the PDP national Secretariat allows such activities to continue,  that it can amount to tenure elongation to rubbish members vying for the same position under the same political party.

 

Speaking to Hon Bitrus Kaze at the Court premises after the judgment has been entered in his favor, then, how did you feel?

 

 

 

Kaze explained that he is so happy, not just because the judgment is in his favor but that it has added value to democracy and subsequently the judgment is an indication that you cannot be a judge in your matter.

 

 

According to him, “this is what has disrupted fairness in PDP, this is what fabricated lack of fairness in the party that should have been the envy of all political parties “.

He pointed out that  ” a side entering judgment in your favor the court order for compensation of  N2million so I feel highly honored that this judgment captured all the Kangaroo congresses conducted by the Yakubu Chocho led Caretaker committee PDP “.

 

 

The judgment explained vividly that all aspirants who bought the party nomination form are eligible to contest for the congress that is yet, it would have been within 10th Aug 2020 when the tenure of the caretaker is within the law and has not elapsed, to me that is fundamental .

 

 

 

He commended the judiciary for adding value to the beauty of our democracy because the caretaker committee was further extended of which that extension is interpreted by the court to be illegal and therefore null and void of no effect.

 

 

Kaze added that most importantly the court stresses very, very clearly that anybody that wants to pervert the course of natural Justice will have the Court of law to contend with so that is the reason why we are here in the Court believing that the court will listen to us and today we can go home and sleep.

 

 

Hon. Bitrus Kaze said that the issues claimed by Hon Yakubu Chocho disclaiming some of us that we are not a member of PDP that we don’t pay our prescribed dues to the party the court said, “we are a member of the political party even if the party could not determine the issue of membership, but your ward do which is fundamental and rewarding in politicking and the court refused to module into it”.

 

 

Hon Bitrus disclosed that the judgment has just robbed his party and a very close associate which he described as total sadness but the law of the land had taken her position.

 

 

We have said it severally, in the course the judgment, of his lordship the court maintained that we complainants ought to have been attended to their complaint but they turn a deaf ear to listen to them.

 

 

 

Kaze added that it is consequential of any other Congress and other bye product, in other words, any other decisions the Party took beyond 10th August,2020,in the name of Congress and caretakers,is null and void and of no effect. lt stand nullified and one of such decisions is the plateau Southern Senatorial Bye-Election.

 

 

He said you can’t extend the caretaker congress beyond August 10th,2020; and expect the bye product to stand.

 

 

 

 

It’s very hard for you to bear particularly when it involves your friends, somebody I know, and more importantly my party but the position of the law must be respected.

 

 

Speaking earlier, the Counsel to the plaintiff Abdullahi Munir said his clients are in court because the tenure of the executive committee of the people Democratic party has elapsed, and the same people that are partaking in the election are met to serve as the caretaker committee.

 

 

My clients feel they will not get Justice, because the same people will be involved in the screening of candidates in the election.

 

 

 

 

The implications of today’s judgment are twofold, that the PDP as Party has the right to constitute a committee but after 3 months, they did not have the power to extend it.

 

 

 

Secondly, that the court had ordered fresh Conduct of the party’s Congress within 90 days and all the eligible candidates of the People Democratic Party (PDP) should be given free hands to participate.

 

 

In addition, the cost of N2 Million is awarded to the plaintiffs.

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