Labour Party: PDP Loses Seat As Appeal Court Sacks Top Senator

The Appeal Court in Abuja has invalidated the election of a top Senator of the main opposition party.

In the latest judgment, the Court of Appeal sacked Senator Simon Mwadkwon, the Senate Minority Leader.

In its ruling on Sunday, the court declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not properly nominate Mwadkwon as its candidate, rendering his election null and void.

As a result, the court has mandated a re-run election to be held within 90 days to determine the new representative for the Plateau North Senatorial District.

The court found that the PDP failed to fully comply with the Electoral Act, as twelve Local Government Areas (LGA) did not participate in the primary organised by the party. Additionally, non-compliance with an existing court order was cited as a significant factor in the decision.

Emphasizing the importance of due process, the court ruled that a fresh election for the Plateau North Senatorial seat is necessary. However, the PDP will not participate in the rerun elections, as determined by the appeal court.

This ruling follows a legal battle involving Gyang Yaya Zi and the Labour Party (LP) as the 1st and 2nd Appellants, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mwadkwon, and the PDP as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents.