Group Rejects Appeal Court Verdicts Sacking Plateau Lawmakers ... Urges Judiciary to Affirm Mutfwang as People's Choice


Ahead of Appeal Court reserved judgement on victory of Plateau State Governor,Mr. Caleb Mutfwang ,a group under aegis of Forum for Justice and Good Governance (FJGG) warned the judiciary against upturning the people's will in the state .

According to the group, the situation where the electorate happily trooped out to vote candidates of their choice during the concluded 2023 general elections and the court later upturning such popular victory is not only undemocratic, but also unacceptable.

The group, which issued the warning in a press statement signed by Comrade Daniel Gowong expressed worry over the recent verdict delivered by the Appeal Court in the National Assembly (NASS) election case in Plateau State.

It said ,"The idea of the Election Petition Tribunal nullifying election on the grounds that the PDP candidates did not have a proper party structure and, therefore, could not file candidates for the elections are preselection matters that should hold water at the Appeal Court".

While describing what happened in Plateau State as insensitive and may not reflect the will of the people, the group explained: "The Appeal Court entering pre-election matters at this point in time is not fair to the people and could deemed as miscarriage of justice "

" We make bold to say ,the decision to declare the former Governor and Minister of Labour, Mr Simon Lalong, winner of the Plateau South Senatorial election against the PDP candidate, Senator Napoleon Bali on grounds the PDP didn't have structure and lacked the right to take part in the election is a case of travesty of justice.

"The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party winner with 148,844 votes, while Lalong scored 91 674 to come second in the February 25 elections."

" Similarly ,we recalled the recent Court of Appeal at Abuja, in separate judgements, sacked three PDP House of Reps members: Peter Gyendeng representing Barkin-Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency; Musa Bagos representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency and a fifth-term lawmaker, Beni Lar, who represented Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency over issue invalid nominations by the party.

"For us,these are clear cases of rape of our democracy, and any well-meaning Nigerian must reject it in its ramification.

It however said , "Now that Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal by the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Plateau state, Nentawe Goshwe challenging the victory of Caleb Mutfwang, we are calling on the judiciary as the last hope of the masses to Affirm Governor Mutfwang victory .

"INEC declared the PDP candidate , Governor Mutfwang as winner of the Guber election with 525,299 votes to defeat his APC rival Goshwe,who polled 481,370 votes in the March 18 governorship election in the state.

"Goshwe later challenged Mutfwang's victory the tribunal, claiming that the governor was not validly nominated and sponsored by his party with allegations that his election was not conducted in compliance with the electoral act and he did not win the majority of lawful votes cast during the election.

"We would be happy to join people of Plateau State ,if the Appeal Court dismissed the baseless allegations and Affirm Mutfwang's victory which reflects people choice."