INEC issues certificates of return to 16 new assembly lawmakers in Plateau

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State has issued certificates of return to the 16 new lawmakers of the State Assembly.

Fifteen of the lawmakers belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while one is a member of the Labour Party (LP).

These new assembly members were declared winners by the appeal court after it nullified the earlier declaration of the previous members on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The appeal court held that the PDP lawmakers were removed because the party has continuously disregarded court orders to conduct congresses since 2021.

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Dr Oliver Agundu, Plateau INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said that the exercise was in fulfilment of the directives of the Appeal Court.

Agundu said that the Appeal Court has directed the commission to issue certificates of return to the lawmakers as the rightful winners of the elections.

The REC congratulated the lawmakers-elect for the feat and wished them well as they settled down to serve the state.

Chief Rufus Bature, APC State Chairman, said that the Appeal Court victory further strengthened the electoral process and deepened Nigeria’s democracy.

Bature cautioned the lawmakers against any form of mockery of other political parties in the state and urged them to be magnanimous in victory.

“The interests of Plateau will always remain the top priority. We are looking at democracy as being about ourselves and not about ourselves.

“My charge to the members is that we should look at Plateau as our starting point in whatever we are going to do,” he said.

The members include; Dachung Moses (Riyom constituency, APC), Nanbol Lipstick (Langtang North Central constituency, LP), Bendel Daniel (Langtang South constituency, APC ), Abel Nimchak (Langtang North North constituency APC), Naanlong Daniel (Mikang constituency, APC), Laven Denty (Pankshin South constituency APC), Kwarpo Sylvanus (Mangu South APC), and Sylvester Wallangko (Bokkos constituency APC).

Others include: Sunday Mark (Jos North West  constituency APC), Dalyop Isaac (Jos South Constituency APC), Abdul Yanga (Manga North East constituency APC), Theodore Maiyaki Quaanpan South APC), Yakubu Sanda Pengana  constituency) Dickson Chollom (Barkin Ladi constituency) and  Eli Bako Ankala (Rukuba-Irigwe APC).