From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
The Plateau state High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital has upheld the petition of Joshua Ubandoma as the substantive Council Chairman of Langtang North to continue in office still October 10, 2022.
The Chairman of Langtang North Ubandoma, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member had approached the court when the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) advertised his office for election and went ahead to conduct the said election in the just concluded October 9, 2021 local government elections in the State.
Delivering judgement, at the High Court 7, on Tuesday, Justice Ishaku Kunda upheld the petition of the plaintiff and urged him to resume his office immediately.
It will be recalled that PLASIEC conducted elections in the said position, returned Rinvem Zulfa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Langtang North LGA election, subsequently, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong swore-in Mr Zulfa as the substantive Council Chairman of Langtang North on October 10 this year.
Reacting to the development while briefing journalists at her residence, a House of Representatives member for Langtang North/South, Beni Lar, said the judiciary has stood for justice and remains the hope of the downtrodden.
The federal lawmaker recalled that Mr Ubandoma has just spent two out of the three year tenure he swore for, and PLASIEC attempted to rape him of the mandate.
She described the Langtang North local government elections as a “Kangaroo” election. According to her, there was no vacancy for the election to have taken place at that local government.
Beni Lar urged all elected officials whose position is being threatened by injustice, not to relent but prosecute such case to its logical conclusion.
“Anybody who tempered with the seat of an elected official, the court should reverse the impunity, because we are in a democracy,” she said.
On his part, winner of the said case, the Chairman of Langtang North, Joshua Ubandoma, while speaking with journalists shortly after the judgement expressed joy, saying the judiciary has justified its purpose of establishment.
Mr Ubandoma reassured the electorate that the mandate given to him as the council chairman shall be fulfilled.
He equally appreciated the media for covering his actives and reporting factual issues, in spite of threats.
With the fresh development, the APC has lost one out of the 17 council chairmen to the PDP.
Mr Zulfa had resigned as Commissioner for Special Duties and contested the local government chairmanship seat.