The Court of Appeal on Tuesday nullified the participation of the PDP and its senatorial candidate in the February 25 National Assembly Election, Napoleon Bali for the Plateau South Senatorial District of Plateau State on grounds of refusal to carry out the order of the Court.
The Appellate Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Elfaida Williams-Dawodu, held as unlawful and wasted votes cast for PDP in the election and declared the former Gov. Simon Lalong as the Senator for the Plateau South Senatorial District.
Lalong who stood for the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had come in second in the February Senate election.
Justice Williams-Dawodu held that the PDP and its candidate have no legal ground to participate in the election, having failed to obey the judgment of a Plateau High Court.
The court added that the party should conduct lawful elections for the purpose of having officers for Wards, local governments, and state councils.
The Plateau High Court had in 2022 ordered the PDP to conduct elections for the selection of officers for Wards, Local Governments and the State Chapter of the party which was not complied with.
The Court of Appeal said that disobedience and disregard to clear lawful order of Court was fatal because PDP hurriedly put an illegal Caretaker Committee in place in confrontation to the Court judgment.
Specifically, the Appellate Court held that PDP did not sponsor any candidate for the Plateau South Senatorial District because it was not qualified to stand for any election as of Feb. 25, 2023.
“As at Feb. 25, PDP was on a faulty background at the nomination of a candidate for any election. It has no legal foundation upon which it’s candidate nomination can stand.
Court declares Lalong Plateau South Senator
