Andrew Ajijah
Counsel to the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Plateau State, said he would not accept the judgement of the Appeal Court, which dismissed his client’s petition on lack of merit and re-affirmed the election of Simon Lalong as governor of Plateau State.
Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after the verdict, Barr. Edward Pwajok SAN, told journalists that the team of lawyers for the PDP and it candidate are not certified with the decision of the Appeal Court, therefore, they would approach the supreme court for justice.
The Appeal Court, sitting in Jos had,on Friday, dismissed the petition of Gen. Jeremiah Useni, candidate of the PDP against the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor Simon Lalong.
In his reaction to the judgement, deputy governor of Plateau State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, in an interview at the court premises, called on their opponents to join hands with their administration to develop Plateau state.
One of the contending issues in the petition of the PDP against APC candidate was the alleged non-qualification of Governor Lalong to contest the governorship elections, because he, Governor Lalong, changed his name from Sule Bako to Simon Bako Lalong.
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The panel of five Judges at Appeal Court ruled that there was no law that prohibits anyone from changing names, once there was a court Affidavit to attest that it is the same person bearing the new name.
According to Pwajok, the PDP candidate, Gen. Useni, won the elections but that INEC declared his opponent Simon Lalong of APC winner of the said poll.
However, counsel to the APC and Governor Lalong, Garba Pwul SAN, said the verdict of the Appeal Court was an affirmation of the Plateau electorates who elected them.
Barr. Pwul said his team of lawyers was ready to prosecute the case at the Supreme Court.
The counsel to APC however said the approach of the PDP to the supreme Court might be fruitless efforts, according to him the decision of the supreme Court might not be differ from the two Courts and INEC.
It will be recalled that, the low tribunal had sent parking the petition of Gen Jeremiah Useni and PDP; Similarly the appeal court sitting in Jos subsequently re-affirmed the victory of governor Lalong as declared by INEC and the lower tribunal.
There was jubilation by APC party supporters in Plateau state, singing songs of victory.
