Tribunal sacks PDP lawmaker, declares APC winner

The Plateau State House of Assembly election petition tribunal has sacked the election of Timothy Dantong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 State House of Assembly election.

According to The Nation, the tribunal subsequently declared Moses Dachum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Riyom state constituency election winner.

Justice B.M Tukur-led panel posited that the PDP did not have a valid structure as of the time of the election and, therefore, could not sponsor candidates for the election as it had disobeyed a court order of Justice S P Gang in the Plateau State High Court issued on November 26, 2020.

Controversies in election tribunal judgments in Plateau State

Political pundits have expressed worries about the tribunal judgments in Plateau States, with the court at different levels sacking, making PDP lawmakers, including Senators and House of Representatives members, uphold the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The governor's victory was upheld on the same ground that some lawmakers have been sacked, raising the question of whether the law speaks in one voice.

Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi unanimously upheld the victory of Governor Mutfwang, stating that the PDP has a structure that produced and sponsored the governor into the election.

However, the court has sacked some PDP lawmakers, including Dantong, because the party lacked structure as of the time it conducted its primaries.