16 Sacked Plateau Lawmakers Seek Reinstatement in the State's House of Assembly

The 16 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly sacked by the Court of Appeal last November have resolved to resume legislative duties on Tuesday.

The group of ousted legislators, made their decision known when they briefed journalists on Monday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the members, 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.

NAN also reports that 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; and re-run elections to fill their seats had been set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for February 3.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election was also quashed by the same court for the same reason. It was, however, reversed by the Supreme Court in a 12 January judgement.

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

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

Mr 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.

“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 because they voted for us, and they are not ready to compromise that,” Mr Maren stated.

(NAN)