BY YAKUBU WUYEP, JOS
Former Member representing Wase Constituency, Hon Maimako Bello has described the victory of Senator representing Plateau Southern Senatorial District, Sen Ignatius Longjan as a demonstration of the people mandate and a confirmation of landslide victory at poll.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the judgment at the Plateau State High Court, Hon Maimako who congratulated the senator elected for his overwhelming support by the people of Plateau South.
Barr Kefas Peter Dandam of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has approached the election tribunal seeking to quash the mandate.
According to him, the declaration of the 2nd respondent, Sen. Ignatius Longjan was done in error as he was not validly elected on February 23, 2019 general election marred with irregularities, massive frauds, and non compliance to the electoral act thereby calling on the tribunal to nullify the exercise.
He prayed the tribunal to cancel and order for a rerun due to falsification, mutilation of results in his petition dated May 4, 2019.
However, the tribunal Chairman Justice J.I Nwoye ruled that the petition lacked merit and has failed completely to proof his allegations of over voting and other issues raised.
The petitioners had presented 40 witnesses and also tendered 155 exhibits in support of his allegations while the 1, 2&3 respondents with only 8 witnesses and 15 exhibits attached.
Counsel to the petitioners, Barr John Okafor complaint that the petitioner proved the case beyond reasonable doubt yet the tribunal confirmed Longjan on technical grounds.