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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ACTING LEGAL ADVISER, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) PLATEAU STATE. TAKE NOTICE that the rumour making the rounds insinuating that the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) is Excluded from the RERUN Elections for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency & Plateau North Senatorial District IS NOT TRUE but the usual misrepresentation of facts and implantation of mischief targeted at misinforming and demoralizing the general public. The Order of the FEDERAL HIGH COURT being circulated DID NOT exclude PDP IN ANYWAY. The order of the Court of Appeal simple is straightforward that ALL PARTIES (including PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) shall participate in the rerun election. Kindly note that PDP IS ON THE BALLOT and eligible to participate in the rerun. We therefore call on ALL our esteemed and teeming supporters to come out in numbers and vote for the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) come the 3rd of February 2024. E-sign E. Dakyen, Esq.

By Wilson Bako (Lafia), Nasarawa State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion of Agricultural activities in the state through the provision of farm inputs at a subsidized and affordable rate to farmers in the state. The state Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, disclosed this in Lafia the state capital on Tuesday at the flag-off of sales of fertilizer for this year’s dry season farming in the state. He said in line with this policy, the fertilizer would be sold at a subsidized rate of #12,000 per bag as against the current rate of #21,000 in the market. Engineer Sule, however, warned those saddled with the responsibility of disbursing the commodity to steer clear of any shoddy deals in the discharge of their assignment that any of them found wanting would face the wrath of the Law. He said the State Government bought a total of 13, 000 bags of fertilizers, solely to be distributed to farmers in the state, while adding that, “anything to the contrary would be viewed as...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, which declined jurisdiction to entertain the Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/26/2024, filed by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Simon Mwadkon and Musa Agah, has stated that the reason for declining jurisdiction is because the Applicants failed to follow due process of Law. The Court Presided over by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite in his judgment also, stated that the matter is election-related and it is statutory and Sui Generis and same cannot be commenced by way of Prerogative Writ. From the Certified True Copy (CTC) obtained and signed by Kasope Kafayai Bola, the Registrar of the Court, the Judgment in part states as follows:- “After hearing the argument of both the Applicants’ and Respondents’ Counsel for and against granting of the reliefs sought by the Applicants, and the Court having given its Ruling/Judgment, It is hereby ordered as follows: That election-related matters are statutory and sui generis and same cannot be co...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), Yesterday, the 29 th of January 2024, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwiete, declined “Jurisdiction” to entertain the Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/26/2024, filed by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates, Hon. Simon Mwadkon and Hon. Musa Agah Avia, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 3 others. The Suit filed by the Plaintiffs was seeking an Order of Mandamus to compel INEC to include PDP’s candidates, Mwadkon and Agah in the Plateau North Senatorial District and Bassa/Jos-North Re-run elections ordered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. It should be of note that the FHC reached the conclusion of declining Jurisdiction owing to the Preliminary Objection (PO) filed by the Labour Party (LP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and their candidates, who were later joined in the suit. With the break of the news in Jos, the Plateau State capital, and with less than Four (4) ...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The Federal High Court, Abuja Division has dismissed the case filed by Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), its candidates, Hon. Simon Mwadkon, and Hon. Musa Agah, against the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in which the Plaintiffs were seeking for an Order of Mandamus for INEC to include their names as PDP candidates in the slated rerun for Plateau North Senatorial District and Jos-North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State respectively, for want of Jurisdiction. REALITY just gathered. You would recall that, REALITY had reported that, with Five (5) days to the slated Rerun Election fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 3 rd of February 2024, for Plateau North Senatorial District and Bassa/Jos-North Constituency, worries and political tension has continued to characterize the state’s political climate with the pending case. You would also recall that, from the Motion Expert earlier filed dated 11 th January 2024...

I , Honourable Grace Zamfara, Plateau State Labour Party (LP), Chairman on behalf of the party EXCO, Elders, Stakeholders and the entire members, welcome their Excellences, Mr. Peter Obi, LP Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, and also Barrister Julius Abure, LP National Chairman, to Plateau State in solidarity to the Re-run campaign of the party’s Plateau North Senatorial  District and Jos North/Bassa House of Representatives candidates, Barrister Gyang Zi and Hon. Daniel Asama. I hereby call on all LP members and well-wishers to turn out en masse on Tuesday 30th January 2024, by 8.00 am to welcome our August visitors at Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang. Labour Party, forward ever backward never! Labour Party, Papa Mama Pikin! Signed: Hon. Grace Zamfara LP Party Chairman Plateau State.

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), With Five (5) days to the slated Rerun Election fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 3 rd of February 2024, for Plateau North Senatorial District and Bassa/Jos-North Constituency, worries and political tension have continued to characterize the state’s political climate with the pending case of the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Simon Mwadkon and Hon. Musa Agah at the Federal High Court, Abuja. You would recall that from the Motion Expert earlier filed dated 11 th January 2024 and moved on the 15 th of January 2024 by the Plaintiffs (PDP, Hon. Simon Mwadkon and Hon. Musa Agah) at the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/26/2024, the Plaintiffs had sought for an Order of the Federal High Court, granting leave to the candidate of the PDP in the 2023 Plateau North Senatorial District (Mwadkon) and that of Bassa/Jos-North House of Representatives candidate (Agah) respectively, ...

By: Wilson Bako (Lafia), One year after the air strike in Akpanaja Community in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State Nigeria that claimed 37 lives, the Air Force has finally taken responsibility. The Chief of Air  Staff, Air Vice  Marshall Hassan Abubakar, who led other senior officials of the Air Force, during a courtesy visit on Friday, to Governor Abdullahi Sule in Lafia, the state capital, admitted responsibility for the misfortune. Air Vice Marshall Abubakar explained that last year’s airstrikes were carried out in the state following an intelligence report of sighting what he called Suspected Terrorists on motorbikes in Rukubi, in Doma Local Government Area of the state. He said the area was known for its heightened insecurity, occasioned by killings, kidnapping, and terrorism perpetrated by terrorists in the state, while stating that, “This called for an airstrike”. He, however, expressed regret that such an airstrike was later discovered to have wrongfully targete...

By: Wilson Bako (Lafia), Nasarawa State Government has commended the role being played by Traditional Rulers in the state in showing active participation in ensuring the cleanliness of the state during the monthly sanitation exercise. The State Commissioner of Environmental and Natural Resources, Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, who made government feelings known on Saturday, expressed delight that the Emir of Lafia and Chairman Nasarawa State Traditional Council, Justice Sidi Bage, personally went around to ensure strict compliance with the exercise by his people. He said the Emir’s gesture served as a morale booster as well as encouragement in ensuring full participation in the cleanliness by the people. While expressing satisfaction with the level of compliance during the exercise, Hon. Kwanta however, said that one cannot rule out a certain percentage of some people who did not participate in the general cleanliness. The Commissioner said he has contacted the leadership of commercial motor...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), It is a fact that the Plateau State House of Assembly’s 8 Members resumed sitting today, the 23 rd of January 2024, after its two-month recess. It is also a fact that the threat by the sacked 16 Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Members to besiege the sitting at the Old Government House Rayfield was fulfilled by them. But, their efforts was botched by security operatives. However, what was not made public to the citizens of the state is the actual content of the alleged Order of the Court presented to the Speaker by the 16 sacked Members. From investigation by REALITY and on the face of the document tendered by the 16 sacked Members, the relief to restrain the Sixteen Honourable Members-elect from their swearing-in was not granted. Secondly, the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Jos Judicial Division, which sat and heard the Experte Application of the sacked Members on Monday 22 nd of January 2024, refused reliefs 1 and 2 of the Application filed by sacked P...

By: Reuben Egba, The Hon. Commissioner of the Plateau State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Chrysanthus Dawam has explained that, Plateau State 2024 Budget Estimate is higher than that of 2023 because, the Green Cap administration being led by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang (Esq) is poised to implement a budget that would impact positively in the lives of citizenry. The Commissioner who gave this explanation during 2024 Budget Breakdown at the Conference Hall of the Cabinet Office, Jos, on the 19 th January, 2024 said, “My dear citizens of Plateau State , it may interest you to note that the 2024 approved estimate is higher than the 2023 budget with One Hundred and Sixty-Four Billion, Nine Hundred and Three Million, Eight Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Two Naira (N164,903,813,962.00) only, reason being that the present administration is poised to implement a budget that could impact positively in the lives of citizenry”. According to him, “The P...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), As the petition against the election that brought Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) has been settled by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the Executive Arm in the state has resumed work fully, the Legislative Arm is gearing up to resume its crisis of Leadership. Pundits in the state are of the views that the Speakership position in the House of Assembly may become the new issue for political struggle. They are of the views that the current Speaker of the House, who has been on recess since 21 st of November 2023, may not have the clot to manage the coming contest as he is a minority among the 24 member Assembly. Pundits who spoke to this paper on this issue have also expressed surprise that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dawan, who is of the YPP had continued to hold the position despite the presence of 7 Lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress being led by Hon. Joe Bukar, who is a more experienced state Lawmaker. REALITY gathered that nocturnal meetings h...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), Plateau State High Court Presided over by Hon. Justice Samchi has struck out the Application for Joinder filed by the 17 Local Government Transition Committee (TIC) Chairmen in the state in suit No: PLD/J257/2023, filed by the suspended Executive Chairmen of the Local Government Councils. The Court struck out the Application after it was formerly withdrawn by Longji (Esq) a state Director of Civil Litigation, who also doubles as he Counsel to the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the Plateau State House of Assembly, being the 3 rd and 4 th Defendants in the suit. Earlier before his withdrawal, the Court was drawn to take Judicial Notice by Tob Kekemeke (Esq), Counsel to the Claimants that the 8 th Applicant for Joinder, Hon. Daniel Kume had earlier applied to be joined personally in the suit as the TIC Chairman of Mikang Local Government Council (LGC) and his Application was refused and dismissed by the Court for lack of merit. Kekemek...

PLATEAU: FINALLY, SEN. JONAH D. JANG (RTD) MAKES POLITICAL HISTORY, INSTALLS GOVERNOR By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The political history of Plateau State has recorded another celebrated incident as the struggle by political elites in the state to be the first to install a governor of their choice in the state and after their administrations have now been settled with former Governor Sen. Jonah D. Jang, becoming the first to achieve that feat. The struggle by political elites in the state to achieve this feat predates 1999 but became very obvious with the return of Democratic Governance in Nigeria in 1999. GOV. CALEB OF PLATEAU STATE The 2023 Governorship election of Plateau State saw a huge part of the struggle as former Governors of the State came into the center stage to express and defend their interest. With Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), a Party dear to the Heart of Sen. Jang now in the saddle, many have began to see the shadow of Sen. Jang...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), Plateau Labour Party (LP) Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, who also is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Dr. Patrick Sunday Dakum has congratulated Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang (Esq), on his victory at the Supreme Court. In his congratulatory message signed by his Media Consultant, Mr. Shabul Mazadu, and made available to REALITY, Dr. Dakum hailed the Governor as the undisputable elected Governor of the state in the 2023 Plateau State Governorship election. As a responsibility, Dr. Dakum called on the Governor to put Plateau State first as a priority. DR. DAKUM “Responding to the Apex Court’s verdict, Dr. Dakum, a former Plateau State Commissioner of Health and Information, called on Mutfwang to put Plateau’s interest above all other considerations to move the state forward, and to be magnanimous in victory by carrying everybody along irrespective of political par...

Once again, the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) has demonstrated that completing school can never be compared to experience on the job. It has also as a Court of Law and Policy, reiterated and re-vibrated the policies of the Court to the other Courts below. The Supreme Court took the Judgments delivered on the 12 th of January 2024, involving 7 states’ Governorship political tussles, which included that of Plateau State, to reestablish that the issue(s) of Congresses, Primaries, Nominations and Sponsorships of Candidates by a Political Party, can only be determined by the Federal High Court (FHC) of Nigeria and not the State High Courts, while frowning at the Tribunals and the Court of Appeal for assuming Jurisdiction in the matter, especially as it concerned Plateau State elected officers at all levels. This therefore informs Nigerians and the Legal Community that education alone cannot hold without experience. A quick reflection on the development of the case of lack of alleged lack ...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), Plateau State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Samchi has re-adjourned the hearing of the Originating Summons (OS), Suit No: PLD/J257/2023, filed by the 17 Suspended Local Government Council (LGC) Chairmen of Plateau State, to the 19 th of January 2024, for a definite hearing. This is to allow the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the State House of Assembly, being the 3 rd and 4 th Respondents, to respond to the Further and Better Affidavit filed by Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) and the Attorney-General of the State, being the 1 st and 2 nd Respondents, respectively. The Court in its sitting yesterday before reviewing its ruling had ordered the commencement of the hearing of the Originating Summons, while refusing the application for adjournment filed by the Counsel to the 1 st and 2 nd Defendants to the suit. “On the 22 nd of December, 2023 Counsel to the 1 st and 2 nd Defendants was in Court when the date was given an...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) has reserved Judgment day on the Appeal filed by the Governor of Plateau State Caleb Mutfwang (Esq), who is challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which sacked him from office and in his place, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, as Governor-Elect, to a date that, would be communicated to Counsels in the matter. The Court however, after listening to the submissions of all Counsels in the matter, has reminded and declared that the last day for the life span of the case is 16 th January, 2024. DETAILS COMING…   

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The case between the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) against, Sen. Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam, over alleged criminality and looting of Plateau State funds while in office has been adjourned to the 20 th of February 2024 for hearing. The case No: CA/J/25/C/2023 filed by the FRN was adjourned today, after the Motion for Extension of Time to file the Appellant’s Brief was moved by, O. S. James (Esq), Counsel to the Appellant and granted by the Court as the Respondents/Defense Counsels raised no objection. Although Sen. Jang was not in Court in person, John Odidi (Esq) held the brief of his Counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), while Elizabeth Ogah (Esq) appeared for Yusuf Pam (the 2 nd Respondent/Defendant). MORE DETAILS COMING….  

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), With one day and a few hours left to the hearing of the Appeal filed by the Governor of Plateau State at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenging his sack from office by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the Political Leaders and Mentors in both Political Parties, Party Supporters, and other Big Wigs in the Political space have created strategies to speak to the citizens in the state to support their course, one way or the other. The marketing strategies which took effect immediately the Supreme Court fixed the date for hearing is observed by REALITY from the contending parties for the Governorship seat in the state. The alleged political strategies include moves to mutiny the citizens to start allege recalls on incumbent Representatives, Senators and even Members of the State House of Assembly, going to speculations and exposures of alleged corruption by the former and incumben...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The Gideon and Funmi-ParaMallam Peace Foundation has joined other concerned organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to visit some communities in Plateau State that came under heavy attacks by gunmen on 24/12/2023 being the 2023 Christmas Eve. Dr. Gideon ParaMallam, who led a team of his Peace Foundation to Bokkos Communities to sympathize with the people on Friday expressed concern over the level of devastation in the communities. ParaMallam, also visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were camping at different locations including those at the COCIN Church in Bokkos and donated some relief materials to them including mattresses, bags of grains among other food stuffs. Speaking with Journalists ParaMallam said, “We have come here to Bokkos and we have seen and heard from the people. The attacks in Bokkos villages have been very devastating. The loss of lives and the degrading of human dignity has been very painful. “Our Pe...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (APC), The Plateau State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has finally broken its silence over the case between Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Ghoshwe, owing to the frequent questions been asked by citizens of the state on the status of the PDP. In a very long piece written by the PDP made available to REALITY, the Party made it clear that the chapter in Plateau State had a leadership tussle but that this was caused by the painful loss of the 2019 Governorship Election, and that the APC in the state has been peddling untruthful information about the status of the Party in the state. According to the Party, “Following the painful loss of the 2019 Governorship Elections, many party faithful were displeased with the leadership of the then Chairman, Hon. Damishi Sango, and pressurized him to resign. After much resistance, Mr. Sango resigned and a Caretaker Committee headed by ...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), Five (5) days to the definite hearing of the Amended Originating Summons filed by the suspended 17 Local Government Council Chairmen of Plateau State, the Defendants Suo Motu joined in the suit are yet to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court to file their defenses. You would recall that the Plateau State High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Samchi, had Suo Motu, directed the parties in the suit to amend their processes to include the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly, as 3 rd and 4 th Defendants since there is a claim against them among the reliefs being sought by the Claimants. A check by REALITY this morning 05/01/2024, reveals that the two Defendants are yet to file any process regarding the Court Order. It should be of note that the Governor of Plateau State and the State Attorney General of the State are also Defendants to Suit No: PLD/J257/2023 filed by the suspended Chairmen, as 1 st a...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), With the two (2) months recess declared by the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly about running out within the next few days, the stage would soon be set for the formal swearing-in of the 15 Lawmakers-Elect under the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the House of Assembly. The long-awaited reconfiguration of the House would see the APC having most of the House Members, with the sack of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Lawmakers from the House by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on the ground that they contested the 8 th March 2023 election, as Independent Candidate, a status not known to the Nigerian Laws and Constitution. You would recall that, REALITY had reported that the 15 APC Lawmakers-Elect have been issued their Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after tendering their Enrolled Orders as issued by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. Facts are that with the development, th...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), Tuesday, the 9 th of January 2024, is going to be another historical day for the citizens and politicians in Plateau State as all their attention would be focused on the Supreme Court which would be hearing the Appeal filed by the incumbent Governor of the State, Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) who is challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal which sacked him from office and in his place, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, as Governor-Elect You would recall that, REALITY had reported that the Court Appeal Abuja Division’s Judgment, delivered on the 19 th of November, 2023, on the Plateau State Governorship election that took place on 25 th February 2023, and the decision of the Lower Governorship Tribunal that sat in Jos, Plateau State, are currently on trial, as the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) files his Notice of Appeal and Brief of Argument at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Since this would be the end of litigation on the election matter, the...

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP), The Governor of Plateau State Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) has described the Christmas Eve attacks across Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State as premeditated and coordinated acts of criminality, insurgency, and terrorism. The Governor emphasized the need to address them as such while refuting the traditional narrative of Farmer-Herder clashes. He unequivocally labeled the incidents as GENOCIDE. The Governor in a statewide broadcast press text signed by Gyang Bere, the Governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, dated 1st January 2024,  also acknowledged the resilience of Plateau citizens in the face of adversity and expressed confidence that 2024 would bring hope and opportunities in reflection of the inner strength of the people. The Governor used the New Year broadcast to call on citizens of the state to observe a week of mourning for those who lost their lives in the unprovoked attacks. The statement in part reads...