By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – A newly appointed member of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), Hon. Waziri Kwande has said the People’s Democratic (PDP), will participate in the next Local Government Elections as against the judgement of Justice Yakubu Kunda of the State High Court, which upheld PDP’s exclusion from taking part in the local government elections of October 9, 2021.
Recall that the PDP had sought an injunction order at the court of Appeal to prevent PLASIEC from conducting the election on October 9, 2021, but the ruling led by Hon. Justice Boloukuromo Ugo dismissed the application as the judges unanimously said it was the duty of the court to uphold the constitution and not to be seen to be embarking on measure to violates it or be seen to favour the illegal contraption of the appointment of undemocratic leaders like caretaker committees for local government areas encouraged by Governors.
PLASIEC had excluded PDP from participating in the polls following the judgment earlier obtained by a former member of the National Assembly, Bitrus Kaze and 11 others, in a suit PLD/J34/2021 entered by Justice S.P. Gang ordering for fresh Congresses in Plateau PDP.
However, putting the situation in a perspective, as a new PLASIEC leadership takes over the helm of affairs, Kwande, who spoke to our correspondent at the weekend, said the Supreme Court which upheld the election of the State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has put the matter to rest.
He said all political parties as approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will be given a level playing ground during the yet to be slated Plateau LGA polls.
According to him: “The Supreme Court judgement has put the matter to rest. The Supreme Court is the highest court of the land and its decisions and judgements cannot be uttered but rather set as a judicial precedent for future reference and judgements”, he said.
Kwande said the focus of the new team is to reposition PLASIEC as they met a lot of rot on the ground.
“We have already hit the ground running. We came to the office a day after we were sworn-in. We have a lot of work to do to revamp the Commission.
“We are going to make a difference. In our inaugural meeting, we have already proposed having a strong room in each senatorial zone, so that the electoral material will arrive the communities on time so as to be distributed early on the election day, instead of moving all the materials from the State Capital to LGAs on the election day”, he said
