Plateau State Governor Mutfwang Is Reinstated By The Supreme Court

Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, was restored by the Supreme Court on Friday after the Court of Appeal had declared his election invalid.

In a unanimous ruling, the five-member panel of justices at the top court overturned the appellate court’s decision to remove Peoples Democratic Party candidate Muftwang and recognize Mr. Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the legitimate victor of the state’s March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election.

The court upheld the return of Muftwang as the winner of the election.

It held that it was not in dispute that Governor Muftwang was sponsored for the election by his political party, adding that the validity of his nomination was not a ground that could be challenged at an election petition tribunal.

In the lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the panel held that the appellate court lacked the jurisdiction to determine the validity or otherwise of the primary election that produced Muftwang as a candidate in the election.

It held that the issue of Muftwang’s nomination has become statute-barred since the 21 days allowed for his candidature to be challenged at the high court have since elapsed.

Besides, the Supreme Court, which held that the appellate court made a fundamental error, held that the APC and its candidate lacked the locus standi to challenge Muftwang’s candidature.

It held that under section 84(18) of the Electoral Act 2022, only PDP members that participated in its primary election could challenge the outcome in court.de by another political party.

The supreme court declared, “The whole case is a thorough abuse of the court process.”

“With this kind of ruling from the Appeal Court, the legal profession needs to wake up or it will become irrelevant in the eyes of the public,” Justice Agim cautioned.