Daud Olatunji
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a groundbreaking verdict today, nullifying the election victory of Senator Simon Mwadkwon, the Senate Minority Leader representing Plateau North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
The decision was unanimous among the three-member panel, with Justice Daudu Williams leading the proceedings.
The court’s judgment hinged on its assertion that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not validly nominated Senator Mwadkwon.
Specifically, the panel held that the PDP failed to comply fully with court orders, as 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) did not participate in the congress leading to Mwadkwon’s nomination.
This significant development has far-reaching implications for the political landscape, as the Court of Appeal ordered a rerun for the Plateau North Senatorial seat, to be conducted within the next 90 days.
The decision marks a profound shift in the political dynamics of Plateau North and has sent shockwaves through the political circles in the region.
One key factor that weighed heavily in the court’s verdict was the non-compliance with a subsisting court order issued by the Plateau State High Court in 2020.
This order mandated the PDP to conduct a congress before making any nominations.
The Appeal Court saw the violation of this order as a critical factor that led to the nullification of Senator Mwadkwon’s election victory.
In a parallel ruling, the same panel, led by Justice Okon Abang, nullified the election victory of the PDP’s Musa Avia, who represents Bassa North in the House of Representatives.
This further underscored the seriousness with which the Court of Appeal views non-compliance with court orders, setting a precedent for legal action against electoral irregularities in the region.
As political stakeholders and the general public await the upcoming rerun election in Plateau North, this decision serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adherence to due process in electoral matters, with potential implications for the entire Nigerian political landscape.
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