“What is happening in Plateau Assembly is a shame. If this fragile democracy collapses, the Nigerian judiciary should be held responsible. The judiciary has thoroughly messed up the system and these Judges should be ashamed of themselves. If Plateau State erupts in crisis, the Justices of the Court of Appeal who gave this odious and perverse judgement sacking people legitimately elected by the electorate and imposing on them those without the mandate of the people should be held accountable.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
Following the vow by the sacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau State House of Assembly to resume plenary today despite their sack by the Appeal Court, the Police Command has beefed up security at the Assembly complex in Jos, the state capital.
Armed policemen were deployed to the Old Government House Jos venue of the sitting as early as 5am.
“We are under instructions to screen anyone coming to the venue so as to be sure if you are a staff or hoodlum,” a Police Inspector who pleaded anonymity said as reported by The Nation.
The ousted 16 PDP legislators are relying on the Supreme Court judgment that overturned the decision of the lower court and reinstated Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of the state.
Addressing reporters in Jos on Monday, January 22, the PDP members cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against approaching the House of Assembly, citing the Supreme Court’s pronouncement, which nullified the Court of Appeal’s judgment that led to their dismissal.
Ishaku Maren, the spokesman for the 16 members, emphasized that the Supreme Court had validated their reinstatement, rectifying the error made by the lower court.
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Maren, accompanied by the other 15 members, stated their readiness to resume their legislative duties as law-abiding representatives of the people who elected them.
He said: “As you can see the 16 PDP members, the Plateau State House of Assembly, are all here to address the press regarding our resumption to duty tomorrow because our recess will be ending today (Monday), and by tomorrow, (Tuesday) we are resuming work in earnest and we are confident to address the press by informing the general public that my members that is PDP family members in the State Assembly are in high spirits and are willing and ready to go back and continue with our constitutional duty willingly given to us by the electorate. So we are all ready for the resumption of work tomorrow.
“You might be aware that while we were on recess, there were two Judgments that were passed regarding the status of the state House of Assembly and Plateau State as a whole.
“The first one was that given by the Court of Appeal, where they said that one cannot put something on nothing; that PDP in Plateau State has no structure and it was on that premise that they sacked all the 16 PDP members and behold as we were on recess a superior court gave its own verdict regarding the same issue and in the judgment of the Supreme Court they said that the judgment that was brought before the Court of Appeal in its entirety was fraudulent and because of that the Court of Appeal lacked even the jurisdiction to entertain the entire matter.”
But security sources in Jos, Plateau State capital, said the security personnel were deployed as a proactive measure against any invasion of the sitting by hoodlums.
There are apprehensions there could be a clash between the 16 PDP lawmakers sacked by the Court of Appeal and APC lawmakers declared winner by Court of Appeal.
A source who pleaded anonymity told TheNiche by telephone on Tuesday that the confusion is caused by the judiciary.
“What is happening in Plateau Assembly is a shame. If this fragile democracy collapses, the Nigerian judiciary should be held responsible. The judiciary has thoroughly messed up the system and these Judges should be ashamed of themselves. If Plateau State erupts in crisis, the Justices of the Court of Appeal who gave this odious and perverse judgement sacking people legitimately elected by the electorate and imposing on them those without the mandate of the people should be held accountable.”
