From Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
More reactions have continued to trail recent judgments of the Court of Appeal where three National Assembly members were sacked from Plateau State, as a group, Forum of Former Youth Leaders in Plateau State, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take urgent steps at addressing lack of “morality and justice” in the judicial system, with particular emphasis on the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The group also called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently rise to defending the country’s evolving democracy in the State and Nigeria at large.
The Forum also warned that anyone who tries to suppress the collective resolve of the citizenry would be resisted.
Recall that the Court of Appeal in Abuja in its recent judgments overturned the elections of three National Assembly members (PDP) from the State, citing that they were not validly nominated by their party.
Leader of the group, Ibrahim Yakubu, while briefing journalists at the NUJ secretariat in Jos the State Capital insisted that the judges perveyed justice.
He said that ‘it is appalling and ridiculous to hear appellants arguing that they are not challenging the nominations, only sponsorship. Gentle men of the Press, what is the difference?
“We are aware of the position of the Apex Court of the land -Supreme Court, in Jegede vs INEC which said they are the same thing.
“Therefore, by virtue of chapter 8 and section 50(1) of the PDP constitution, only the NWC of the PDP is vested with the sole right of sponsoring and nominating candidates to any political position from Ward to National level.
“The case of Atiku Abubakar vs. Shettima becomes very instructive. Justice Jauro of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja agreed with Lateef Fagbemi that no matter how pained the PDP is, it must remain an onlooker.
“They further stated that the PDP is poke nosing into the affairs of another party which makes them meddlesome interlopers and busy bodies.
“The Court of Appeal that sat in Abuja today led by Justice Chioma Nwosu Iheme in the case of Tarfaya Asarya of the APC, challenging the nomination, qualification and sponsorship of the PDP Dr Midala Bulami of the PDP and also challenging Supreme Court order by PDP in Borno State.
“The Appeal tribunal held that the appropriate place to challenge the nomination, sponsorship of candidates including disobedience to court order is the High Court, not the Appeal or any other Court,” he explained.
