Tribunal bans PDP lawmaker from future elections

The House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has nullified the election of Vincent Venman representing Langtang South Constituency, just as the Tribunal also handed the lawmaker a ban from future elections.

Delivering judgement in the petition filed by Jackson Danladi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Tribunal ruled that the respondent was not qualified to contest in the election having been convicted of fraud by a court.

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Akeredolu, who delivered the judgement said: “The election and return of the PDP candidate, as a member of Plateau State House of Assembly, representing Langtang South is nullified.”

He, therefore, ordered that a fresh election should be conducted within 90 days.

The Tribunal observed that the petitioner obtained and scored the second highest number of votes, but, however, held that the only order to be given was for a fresh election in the constituency.

In another judgement, the Tribunal upheld the election of the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Peter Azi of the APC and struck out the petition of Peter Choji of the PDP for lack of merit.