Court Returns Ubandoma As Langtang North Council Chairman
BY CHAMBERLAIN ODEY, JOS – A Plateau State High Court on Tuesday ordered that Hon. Joshua Laven Ubandoma should resumed duties as the Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, declaring that his tenure as chairman of the council is still subsisting.
Giving judgment today in a suit brought before him following the declaration of vacancy in the executive chairmanship of the Council by the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), in the build up to last October’s Local Councils polls, Justice Kunda Ishaku said it was wrong in fact and in law to have conducted elections in the area while the tenure of the present chairman was far from over.
Justice Kunda awarded N1.5million cost against PLASIEC, and warned it of dire consequences if the rule of law is breached.
The Court ruled that as elected Chairman, the complainant took oath to serve for three years, declaring that; “it was unconstitutional to cut short that tenure, and truncate it by conducting elections there”.
The trial Judge expressed surprise that with all the efforts by the complainant, Ubandoma to draw the attention of the PLASIEC to this reality, the electoral body shunned the opportunity and arrogantly proceeded to conduct elections in Langtang North.
Justice Kunda ruled that what the PLASIEC did amounted to “an act of rascality”, and ruled that the October 9, 2021, Local Government elections in Langtang North was a “waste of resources and a total nullity”.
The learned Judge therefore ordered the APC chairman sworn in October by Governor Lalong to vacate the office and must not parade himself for any reason as the executive chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council.
Explaining the nature and structure of the judgment, counsel to Ubandoma, Niri Dangora Esq., said it is a “declarative judgment”, meaning even if the respondent wants to go on appeal, the beneficiary of the outcome of the case has to return to the office immediately.
