Amid confusion over 16 empty seats in the Plateau State House of Assembly, 13 Labour Party candidates are determined to push for the court judgments they won against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Before the February 2023 election, these candidates won a court ruling that INEC should include their names and party logos on the ballot papers.
However, INEC didn’t follow the court order and went ahead with the election without including them.
Henry Yunkwap, the spokesperson for the aggrieved LP candidates from the Shendam constituency, explained that despite court orders, INEC didn’t let them participate in the election.
He mentioned that there are two judgments against INEC that the commission hasn’t complied with.
Eventually, they got an injunction to stop the Speaker of the State House of Assembly from swearing in either the APC or the PDP candidates claiming the seats.
They are unhappy with INEC’s actions and are taking legal action to ensure justice. They believe INEC should either conduct another election or face contempt of court charges.
“We feel surprised, which is why we are dragging the matter with the INEC. The commission didn’t do well for us, despite a court order. It is either the INEC conducts another election or faces a contempt of court charge.
“We want justice and fairness to be done. The action is against democracy. We are appealing for justice to be done to the 13 constituencies of the Labour Party that were disenfranchised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Already, we have two judgments against the commission.”
The APC, on the other hand, is threatening legal action against Governor Caleb Muftwang and the Speaker for allegedly refusing to swear in the 16 APC lawmakers affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
In a statement, the APC expressed their frustration with the ongoing efforts to prevent their members from being sworn in.
