More protest has continued to rock Jos the Plateau State Capital and environs over the recent Court of Appeal judgments that sacked some members of the National Assembly from the state.
The National Youths Movement (NYM) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is demanding the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review the recent Court of Appeal judgments.
DAILY POST recalls that youths in their thousands, cutting across the 17 LGAs, marched peacefully along the streets of Jos, with different placards expressing their displeasure over some Court of Appeal judgments that sacked six National Assembly lawmakers of the PDP, ordering a rerun in the Plateau North Senatorial zone within 90 days, others had their certificates of return withdrawn and issued to candidates of APC and the Labour Party.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chairperson of the movement, Sele Prama, who faulted the judgments, argued that the call for the review became necessary because the grounds used by the appellate court to sack the lawmakers were “purely pre-election matters ‘.
She further explained that the judgements had also robbed Plateau people of quality representation at the national level.
”We are here today first as Plateau citizens and members of the PDP national youth movement to express our displeasure with recent judgments of the appeal court that sacked some of our lawmakers
”We view it as an injustice meted out by our party and it has also denied Plateau people quality representation at the national levels.
”It is sad that the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man, has allowed the politicians to use it as mere tools to achieve their selfish desires.
”So, we have come out not to be violent, but to seek redress and to specifically call on the NJC to take a more serious look at these judgments and review them,” she said.
Prama also called on the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to wade into the matter of being a daughter of the state.
Also speaking, Mr Dang Choji, a PDP official in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, insisted that the PDP has a valid structure.
He insisted that the party duly complied with the directives of the court and repeated its congress after the first one, adding that the recent appeal court judgments are merely a conspiracy to subvert the will of the people.
”I participated in the first and the repeated congress of our party; the whole world should know that PDP repeated its congresses as directed by the court.
”The PDP constitution provides that two-thirds majority of delegates can participate in a congress and that’s what happened.
”Over 2,000 delegates participated in the repeated congress which is more than two-thirds of the total number. Only about 120 didn’t participate.
”So, I see a serious conspiracy against the collective will of the people by a few individuals, but we will not accept this injustice aimed at robbing us of our mandates,” Choji said.
He insisted that the youths would continue to occupy major streets in the state to demand justice from the NJC and all relevant stakeholders.
Also speaking, Mr Victor Meshach, a member of NYM, called on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the matter.
He maintained that the issue of structure hinged on the nomination of candidates, adding that only a member of the party could challenge such a move.
”If we allow politics to control the dictates of the law, there will arise injustice in the nation.
”Unfortunately, that is our current situation in Plateau. The law is clear but the basis used by the appellate court to deliver these judgments is ambiguous
”In other states, issues around candidates’ emergence were treated as pre-election matters and dismissed. The case of Plateau should not be different.
”It is unfortunate that the appeal court listened to their prayers even when they were not members of the PDP.
”And so we are calling on the President to use his ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, which simply means hope for every Nigerian, irrespective of political inclination, to address our concerns,” he called.
DAILY POST also recalls that youths cutting across the 17 Local Governments staged a peaceful protest in Jos on Wednesday, where they called on the NJC to review the judgments on Plateau elections.
Lawmakers sacked by the appeal court include Senator Simon Mwadkwon (Plateau North), and Sen. Napoleon Bali (Plateau South).
Also sacked were four members of the House of Representatives – Dachung Bagos(Jos South/Jos East), Beni Lar (Langtang North/Langtang South), Musa Agah (Bassa/Jos North) and Ibrahim Gyendeng (Riyom/Barkin Ladi).
The protesters, who were in their numbers, converged at the National Library and moved to Old Airport junction, Miango junction and other places singing solidarity songs and holding placards with different inscriptions.
