In a pivotal legal development, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, under the leadership of Justice Okon Abang, delivered a unanimous verdict on Friday, leading to the removal of 11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers from the Plateau State Assembly. The panel’s ruling attributed the dismissal to the PDP’s lack of organizational structure, asserting that all 11 PDP legislators garnered invalid votes in the March 2023 general election.
Justice Abang emphasized that the PDP’s breach of section 177 of the 1999 constitution rendered them ineligible to field candidates in the election. Consequently, the Court of Appeal declared the second runners-up in the March 18 elections as the rightful winners, effectively displacing the PDP lawmakers. The affected individuals include Hon Timothy Dantong (Riyom), Hon. Rimyat Nanbol (Langtang North Central), Moses Sule (Mikang), Salome Waklek (Pankshin), Hon. Bala Fwangji (Mangu South), Hon. Maren Ishaku (Bokkos), Hon. Dagogot (Quaanpan North), Nannim Langyi (Langtang North North), Nimchak Rims (Langtang South), Hon. Danjuma Azi (Jos North West), Gwottson Fom (Jos South), and Hon. Abubakar Sani Idris (Mangu North).
With this judicial decision, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has now assumed the dominant position in the Plateau State House of Assembly, securing 22 seats. The Young Peoples Party (YPP) and Labour Party (LP) each hold one seat, leaving the PDP without representation in the assembly.
