PDP Chieftain calls for cancellation of Langtang South by-election
NAN-H-13
By-election
Pankshin (Plateau) Feb. 13, 2017 (NAN) A Chieftain of the PDP in Plateau, Chief Alexander Mwolwus, on Monday called for the cancellation of last Saturday’s House of Assembly by-election in Langtang South Local Government.
Mwolwus made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pankshin, Plateau.
He described the election as a “nullity and a shame.’’
NAN reports that INEC had conducted the by-election following the Dec. 16, 2016 invalidation of the victory of Mr Vincent Bulus of the PDP in the April 14, 2015 election by a Jos Federal High Court.
Bulus was disqualified after the court was convinced that he was an ex-convict.
The chieftain faulted INEC for conducting the by-election in view of a court order of Feb. 7, allegedly compelling it to maintain the status quo until the determination of a motion on notice filed before it by PDP.
“PDP had filed a fresh motion of notice shortly after the judgement of Dec. 16 was given by the Jos Federal High Court and the court asked INEC to hold on yet it refused and went ahead with the by-election.
“This explains the reason why I am calling on the commission to cancel the election it held last Saturday in spirit of fairness and neutrality as an umpire.
“Since it is the same court that gave that judgement INEC is hinging on that gave the order for the maintenance of the status, it was expected that the commission should have respected the order, ’’ he said.
Mwolwus, who was a former Special Adviser to former Gov. Jonah Jang, claimed that INEC’s action was an act of “impunity”.
According to him, “even the dismal turn-out of voters, which put the whole exercise at only 13 per cent is enough for the commission to cancel the election.
“I can’t imagine that only 3,751 validly voted out of 48,615 registered voters in the council and INEC still wants to maintain it had conducted a free and fair election.
“What INEC should just do is to go ahead and cancel that election in respect of the judiciary, which remains the arbiter for life to continue as a people and nation, ’’ he said.
Responding, Mr Oseriti Omahiyereobo, INEC Deputy Director, Human Resources and Publicity Education, said dismissed the claim of a court order stopping the election.
“We got information from our legal department that there was no such court injunction restricting us from conducting last Saturday’s election, that was why we went ahead with it.
“I think we should wait for Feb. 16 when the PDP’s motion on notice will be heard by the court; we should wait and hear what the court would say about the by-election,’’ Imahiyereobo said.
Imahiyereobo argued that INEC had no power to cancel any election it had conducted but only the courts have such powers.
NAN reports that APC candidate, Jackson Nimmwang had won the by-election after polling 3,668 votes to beat his rival of Mega Progressives Peoples Party, Mr Rinsmicit Emmanuel, who scored 83 votes. (NAN)
TYC/FF/MZA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Maharazu Ahmed