Press Statement by the Conveners of the Occupy Plateau Campaigns (OPC)

Date: March 25, 2024

Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Jos

To: The Press, Ladies and Gentlemen

You are aware of the looming anarchy and direct confrontations with the Nigerian State, the constitution, and our democracy by some persons with suspected support of the Plateau State government.

The conveners of the Occupy Plateau Campaigns (OPC), comprised of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youths, the People's Democratic (PDP) Youths, and the Labour Party (LP), stand together against tyranny and lawlessness prioritized by eight members of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the Plateau State Government.

It is our duty and the duty of every patriotic citizen of Plateau State and Nigeria to condemn any act of lawlessness and attempts to undermine democracy and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Following the general elections held on March 18, 2023, there were pre-election lawsuits. The Court of Appeal, the highest court for legislative electoral matters, issued a decision in November 2023. This decision removed and replaced sixteen members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have since complied and sworn in National Assembly members, while the same has not yet been done in Plateau State.

However, in a drama akin to a movie, the 16 lawmakers have not yet been sworn in, and the public has been inundated with claims and counter-claims of a fresh, instigated lawsuit in an attempt to ridicule our democracy and the judiciary.

Youth groups like ours and other civil society organizations on the Plateau have grown impatient waiting for the appropriate bodies to act. We will no longer tolerate any form of lawlessness or legislative rascality that undermines democracy and reduces the state to personal property without a constitutional foundation. We will continue mobilizing our members and partners for the Occupy Plateau protest and will not stop until all necessary actions are taken.

The outright and deliberate refusal to swear in the 16 members is a ridiculous and direct attempt toward anarchy and portrays the judiciary as uncoordinated and lacking the capacity to abide by its decisions.

These shameful attempts have denied the affected constituents their rights to equal representation and the dividends of democracy. They are denied projects like boreholes, electricity, hospitals, schools, and a host of other interventions empowered by House of Assembly laws. Even distributions from both the federal and state governments ought to reach these constituencies as well.

The ridiculous lies being peddled by the purported Speaker and some government officials about a non-existent court injunction by the Federal High Court in Jos stopping the swearing in of the 16 members-elect show how far these people and their agents are willing to go to undermine democracy and the rule of law. For the record, there is no court injunction anywhere stopping the swearing in. It is on record that the Federal High Court in Jos rejected all grounds for the order seeking to stop the swearing in. Therefore, there is no single legal encumbrance that prevents the swearing in of the 16 members-elect.

In the spirit of patriotism and duty, we call upon the Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the National Security Adviser, and all other relevant law and security formations across the country to rise up against the anarchy and direct disobedience to the highest court of the land.

Finally, we bring to the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the direct negative involvement of the Plateau State Government in refusing to swear in the 16 members.

By today's press briefing, we are bringing to the attention of all concerned authorities our readiness and activities towards hosting the Occupy Plateau peaceful protest currently under preparation.

Our teams comprising technical, media, logistics, and coordination units are fully inaugurated to commence actions in earnest.

God bless the good and peace-loving people of Plateau State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you and God bless.

Signed,

Tongzum Barde

Realist Harun Yusuf ABBA

Macham SQ

Nenman Johnson

B.B. Gaknung

Barry Emmanuel Zanni

Merry Gwom.

effort in futility.
Tongzum Barde we've pass the tricks of your likes