Election Tribunal: Gov Jang loses again for second round

From BUHARI B BELLO, JOS
Posted: Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State again suffered another set back as the application filed by the Peoples Democratic Party seeking the dismissal of a motion exparte filed by the Labour Party's governorship candidate and former Deputy Governor of the State, Mr. Pauline Tallen, challenging his re- election was dismissed yesterday by the election petition tribunal sitting in Jos.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Joseph Jella dismissed the application, insisting that the processes which Mr. Tallen filed her pre-hearing petition before the tribunal was in order and inline with electoral procedures
Counsel to the governing party in the state PDP Israel Olurundare [SAN], said they will appeal the ruling, while the tribunal continues its sitting.
He argued that "the law by paragraph 18 sub paragraph 1 of the Electoral Act said we should apply within seven days after being served by the respondent, we served and he did not apply and even under paragraph 18/3 and 18/4 if we did not apply that the matter should be dismissed. The tribunal itself was obliged by that paragraph that the petition itself should be dismissed".
"It is not technicality, even the Supreme Court said it,that it may be very harsh, but that is the provision of the law. We are not saying they should not improve their petition, but they are the ones who delivered the bombshell to their own case by withdrawing the application they filed on 15th June, 2011 and they applied on 5th July, 2011 to withdraw that application, it's on record," he said.
However, counsel to the Labour Party, Ibrahim Jam Jam said "we are happy about the ruling, and we thank God for giving them the wisdom to give such a ruling, because it would help the judiciary".