Tribunal upholds Jang’s election to Senate

The National and State Assemblies Elections Petitions Tribunal yesterday upheld the election of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Jonah Jang as the senator representing Plateau-North in the National Assembly.

The judgment held that all prayers sought by the petitioners, either individually or collectively, lacked merit as they did not prove any violation of the Electoral Act 2010, and so struck out the petitions.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the last election, Mrs. Eunice Ayisa Sambo, had gone to the tribunal to seek redress over allegations that the conduct of the exercise in some local government areas of the senatorial zone fell short of the provisions of the Electoral Act, and prayed the court to either declare her as winner of the poll, or in the alternative, void Jang’s election.

But Justice Lanre Akeredolu, chairperson of the tribunal, held that the petition lacked merit in every facet. “The petition fails in its entirety and it is hereby dismissed,” the judge said.

Counsel to the PDP and Senator Jang, Barrister S. Oyawole, described the judgment as justice done to both parties and the society, explaining that the decision of the tribunal simply reaffirmed the mandate of the people of the zone.

However, counsel to the APC candidate, Barrister Jim Gotom said the legal team would study the judgment before making any comments.