Appeal Court in Abuja sacked the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, Declared APC Nentawe Goshwe Winner

The Appeal Court in Abuja has made a landmark ruling in the case of the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang. The court has ruled that the governor was not duly elected, and that his election victory in the last gubernatorial elections was marred by irregularities and malpractices. As a result of this ruling, Mr. Mutfwang has been removed from office, and a new governor will be appointed to take his place.

This decision has been widely hailed as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, as it demonstrates that the Nigerian judiciary is willing and able to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. It also sends a strong message to other politicians that they must respect the will of the people and conduct themselves in a manner that is transparent and accountable.

In her ruling on Sunday, the lead Justice, Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Nentawe Goshwe.

The ruling came after weeks of legal battles between Goshwe and his closest rival, who was contesting the election results. Williams-Dawodu cited the overwhelming evidence presented by Goshwe’s legal team, which proved that he had won the election fair and square.

Goshwe, who expressed gratitude to the judiciary and his supporters, promised to work tirelessly to ensure that the people of his constituency get the dividends of democracy. He also called on his opponent and other stakeholders to join hands with him to move the constituency forward.

The incoming governor must be someone who is committed to good governance, transparency, and accountability, and who has a clear vision for the future of Plateau State.

According to the court, the decision of the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the APC and its candidate on the ground that the duo had no business meddling in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform Mutfwang was elected is in breach of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 134 (C) of the Electoral Act.

The court also held that contrary to the decision of the tribunal that the issues contained in the petition filed by the appellants were pre-election matters, they were both pre-election and post-election matters and could not have been deemed status barred.

Citing section 177 of the Constitution, the panel noted that Mutfwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP during the election.

It held that the party violated the court order that a valid congress be conducted in the 17 local government areas of that state, by conducting congress in only five local government areas of the state, and as such is a nullity.

While dismissing the decision of Plateau State Election Petitions Tribunal, the court held that the issue of qualification is both a pre-election and a post-election matter contrary to the findings of the tribunal which held that the appellant lacked the locus to contest the validity of the respondent.

The court also noted that under section 134 of the Electoral Act, it is the sole right of a political party to sponsor its candidate having met the necessary requirements to do so.

While evoking section 136 of the Electoral Act, the court ordered INEC to retrieve the certificate of return issued to Governor Mutfwang and issue a fresh certificate of return to the Goshwe.

The recent court ruling on the Plateau State election petition has caused a stir in the political scene. The court declared that the APC and its candidate had the right to contest the validity of the election, contrary to the decision of the tribunal. The court also noted that the issues contained in the petition were both pre-election and post-election matters, which could not have been deemed status barred. It was held that Mutfwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP during the election, and the party had violated a court order by conducting congress in only five local government areas of the state. The court evoked section 136 of the Electoral Act and ordered INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to the Goshwe. This ruling has raised questions about the validity of the election and the role of political parties in sponsoring candidates for elections.

Overall, this ruling represents a significant step forward for democracy in Nigeria, and it is hoped that it will serve as a catalyst for further progress in the years to come.