Politics

Sacked Plateau lawmakers vow to resume legislative duties

The members of the Plateau State House of Assembly sacked by the Court of Appeal in November 2023 have resolved to resume legislative duties on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

The lawmakers made this known while speaking with newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday, January 22.

The lawmakers, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had their election nullified by the court for a lack of party structure.

The federal lawmakers elected on the platform of the PDP in the state were also sacked by the Court of Appeal, citing the same reason.

The re-run elections to fill their seats have been scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for February 3.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang’s election was also quashed by the same court for the same reason.

Mutfwang’s sack was however reversed by the Supreme Court in a judgement delivered on January 12, which held that the lower court erred in its judgement.

Deducing from the apex court’s judgement, the lawmakers claimed that they were only on recess and would resume duties on Tuesday.

The spokesperson of the group, Ishaku Maren, said while they were on recess, two judgements were delivered regarding the status of the Plateau Assembly.

Maren, who was the Majority Leader of the Assembly before the Appeal Court judgement, stated that they were a product of democracy and were validly elected by the majority of votes that were cast in their various constituencies.

He said: “It was even in the words of the Supreme Court that that Appeal Court judgement was a miscarriage of justice.

“I want to also state that even in law, it says that if there is an injury, there will certainly be a remedy.

“Our constituents are willing and ready to accompany us to the Assembly tomorrow (Tuesday) because they voted for us, and they are not ready to compromise that.”

The Star