Toba Owojaiye reporting
In recent news, the Appeal Court in Abuja has made a significant decision regarding the Plateau North Senatorial seat, which has political implications. On Sunday, October 21st, the court ordered a fresh election for the Senatorial seat, which was previously held by Simon Mwadkwon, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Senate Minority Leader for the 10th National Assembly.
The background of this decision lies in the 2023 election results, where Simon Mwadkwon was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 155,681 votes. His closest competitors were Gyan Azi of the Labour Party and Giwa Christopher of the APC. However, the Labour Party’s candidate, Barr. Gyang Yaya Zi, contested the outcome in court, questioning various aspects of the election.
The tribunal, after evaluating the case, reached several conclusions. It held that the petitioners lacked the standing to challenge Mwadkon’s nomination and sponsorship, as they had not participated in the PDP primary election. The tribunal also ruled that certain issues raised by the petitioners were pre-election matters, not within its jurisdiction. Ultimately, it found that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the law and that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove non-compliance.
As a result, the tribunal dismissed the petition and declared Simon Mwadkon as the duly elected senator for Plateau North Senatorial Zone. This decision was supported by the chairman of the tribunal and another judge.
This development could have repercussions on the political landscape of Plateau North Senatorial District and the overall dynamics in the Nigerian Senate. It underscores the importance of adhering to electoral processes and the significance of legal challenges in shaping the nation’s political representation.