PLATEAU STATE: Appeal Court Sacks Governor Muftwang
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the electoral victory of Caleb Mutfwang of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after stating that he wasn’t qualified to run for Plateau state governor.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu in its judgment Sunday said Muftwang was sponsored by a party without a structure, citing a Plateau State High Court decision which had previously dissolved the leadership of the PDP in the state.
The Court held that the PDP candidate wasn’t validly sponsored to run for governor as the party neither held Congresses at both the Ward and Local government levels.
The judgment of the Appeal Court is in agreement with the appeal filed by Nentawe Goshwe the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State governorship election.
In the election, Mutfwang on the platform of the PDP polled 525,299 votes while Goshwe polled 481,370 votes in the March 18 Plateau State governorship election.
Following its unanimous decision, the Appeal Court has also ordered that the certificate of return issued to Muftwang be withdrawn and a fresh one handed to Goshwe, the now declared winner of the polls.
The Appellate Court dismissed the judgment of a three-member panel of a tribunal headed by Justice Rita Irele-Ifijeh, which had affirmed the election of the PDP candidate.
Meanwhile Governor Caleb Mutfwang has described the Court of Appeal’s verdict nullifying his election as a “temporary setback” and has expressed his determination to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.
In a statement through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor said the “temporary setback” won’t deter him from repositioning the state on the path of unity, peace and progress.
Mutfwang expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision and restore his mandate, which he believes was given to him by the people of Plateau State.
