Many supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have staged a massive protest in Jos, Plateau State capital, against the recent election judgements of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which sacked several PDP’s state and federal legislators.
The rulings were in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates, including the Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong, who Appeal Court declared as the winner of Plateau South Senatorial District election.
The protesters came out in their numbers and blocked the road around Old Airport roundabout in Jos, carrying placards with different inscriptions.
They chanted different solidarity songs and danced to loud music as traffic was diverted because of the roadblock that lasted about an hour.
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Shortly after most of the protesters had dispersed, the police and the military arrived at the scene and chased away the the remaining crowd.
A car was smashed and the phone of a lady, who was trying to film the incident, was seized by one of the security operatives.
It took the intervention of some people, who begged on her behalf, before the phone was released.
The protest almost turned violent as the protesters stormed the Court of Appeal along Yakubu Gowon Way, pelting the court building with stones.
A similar protest was held in Maraban Jemaa along Jos-Abuja highway.
The PDP Publicity Secretary in Plateau, John Akans, did not respond to his calls for comment.
Meanwhile, the North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has cautioned the PDP in the state against organizing such protest, describing it as undesirable and unwise.
The Chairman, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, said the state had been bedeviled by crises over the years and sensitive political issues or protests could be a trigger if not well handled.
“The ongoing Plateau election cases at the Appeal Court have been heating the polity unnecessarily. Post election court cases are not only peculiar to Plateau State, and so there is no need to make any problem out of it.
“After election, any aggrieved political party or candidate has the right to pursue their grievances and seek justice in court, and the judgement of the court is always complied with.
“But for any party or group to want to stage a protest against court matters is uncalled for. Besides, Plateau State as well as Jos has seen many ethno-religious crisis, and politics is always used as a strong tool to orchestrate the crisis.
“So, any political protest should always be reconsidered before it is staged so that it doesn’t turn violent,” he said.
