Tribunal bans Plateau lawmaker from contesting election
The National and State House of Assemblies Elections Petitions Tribunal yesterday blacklisted the lawmaker representing Langtang-South in the Plateau State House of Assembly (PSHA), Vincent Bulus, from contesting future elections.
The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election into the seat within 90 days, in a judgment it delivered in a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Jackson Danladi.
Bulus won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Danladi had petitioned the tribunal, alleging that the lawmaker was not fit to vie for the election as he is an exconvict.
Chairperson of the tribunal, Justice Lanre Akeredolu, said the respondent was not qualified to contest the election having been convicted of an offence in line with Section 107(1)(d) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
She said, “The respondent having been convicted of an offence involving fraud and dishonesty by a court of law was not qualified to contest the election into the Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South constituency.
“That the election and return of the first respondent as member of Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South is a nullity.”
However, the tribunal while observing that the petitioner obtained the second highest number of votes, however held that the only order she could give was for a fresh election to be conducted into the constituency.
Also the tribunal upheld the election of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Azi of the APC.