Photo: Mwansat
Plateau Assembly ex-Speaker blasts judiciary over conflicting judgments
Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Istifanus Mwansat, has taken a swipe at the judiciary, particularly regarding the Court of Appeal’s judgments in the National Assembly Election Petition cases of Plateau State.
Nwansat, who stated this while appearing on an Arise Television interview programme, picked many holes in the decisions of the court, wherein the same court presided by virtually the same judges, gave conflicting judgments on cases that had the same ground.
According to the former speaker, a development whereby the judgments are curiously given in favor the APC in the state is worrisome, dangerous and threatens the nation’s democracy, going forward.
Mwansat said: “The Appeal Court, for instance, ordered for a re-run election in the National Assembly election where APC came third, but instead of also ordering for a re-run in an election where APC came second, the court ordered that the certificate of return which was given to the PDP winner should be outrightly withdrawn and given to APC!
“In the Northern Senatorial Election judgement of the Court of Appeal, the PDP came first, the Labour Party came second, and the APC came third. The Appeal Court ruled that there should be a re-run.
“In that judgement, the judge said that all parties shall participate in the election. In law, when you say shall, it means must.”
He gave instances of the curious judgments which he said appeared to be deliberately tailored to favour APC, especially as the court ordered rerun elections in cases where APC came third but ordered withdrawal of certificates from PDP winners, where APC came second!
“For Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, on the same issue and same facts, PDP came first, PRP came second and APC came third. Again, just like the Senatorial judgement, an order of a re-run was made by the court.
“For Mikang/Qua’an Pan/ Shendam Constituency, PDP came first and APC came second. On the same facts, the judgement was to the effect that the certificate of return issued to the PDP winner should be withdrawn and a new certificate of return should be given to the candidate of the APC.
“Now, you ask the question, what is the difference between the issues concerning the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau North Senatorial Election, and the Mikang/Qua’an Pan/ Shendam Constituency, that they were given two different orders?” Mwansat queried.
