Bauchi PDP Wants Lawmaker Recalled from House
From Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State has filled a motion in the Appeal Court in Jos, seeking the withdrawal of a legislator representing the Bauchi Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu in Danmaliki. It also wants fresh polls conducted in the constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The motion, which was filed by the state Chairman and Secretary of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Jama'are and Alhaji Inuwa Obi respectively also prayed the court among other things to declare as "illegal, null and void" Danmaliki's participation or contribution in the debates, proceedings or any other business of the House of Representatives, Abuja".
THISDAY checks revealed that the decision to file a motion at the Appeal Court in Jos seeking for the withdrawal of Danmaliki and INEC to conduct a fresh election, was as a result of the deepening crisis between the lawmaker and his "sponsors" which had in recent times assumed a "frightening dimension".
The latest move by the party, however opened a new chapter in the federal constituency election in which INEC declared the party's flagbearer Danmaliki winner but which had been trailed by legal tussle since the announcement of the result, but had also divided the party in the state.
The genesis of the current crisis, THISDAY investigation revealed started when the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)'s candidate, Alhaji Abdillahi Matori, who was dissatisfied with the INEC's verdict challenged the decision at the State Election Tribunal, alleging irregularities and fraud during the election.
Apparently not happy with the way the case was being handled at the tribunal, Matori went further to file an appeal at the Appeal Court in Jos, which upturned the decision of the lower court in his favour.
According to the Appeal Court's judgment dated November 6, 2003 which upturned the verdict of the Election Tribunal, a fresh election into the Bauchi Federal constituency was ordered. This judgment was hailed by Matori and other politicians in the state, who described it as a victory for the nation's fledging democracy and a plus for the reputation of the judiciary, too.
However, Matori's jubilation was short lived as INEC had since refused to take any step on the order saying the matter had been dragged to the Supreme Court which according to it, had to be on hold until the Apex Court resolved the issue.
Matori, who spoke to THISDAY said his problems became compounded when Dan Bauchi added a new twist when he went ahead again to institute an appeal at the Supreme Court on June 7, 2004 which was eventually struck out as the Supreme Court said it had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal from the Court of Appeal on election matters.
THISDAY gathered that the PDP shortly after the Supreme Court's pronouncement started shopping for a new candidate as speculations were rife that Dan Bauchi was no longer a marketable material for the party.
However, Matori's predicament seemed to be worsened by the state ANPP, which did not do much to consolidate its struggle to retain his mandate.
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