The decision of an Appeal Court to remove Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang from office has been described by the governor as a temporary setback. He has cautioned the people of the state and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters to maintain composure and given them the assurance that as long as God is king, his will will be upheld.
The governor who claimed he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal at the Supreme Court said the “temporary setback” won’t stop him from putting the state back on the path of unity, peace, and progress in a statement issued through Gyang Bere, his director of press and public affairs.
“He expressed strong optimism that the mandate overwhelmingly given to him by the people of Plateau State would be restored, as he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal at the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, there have been reports of large-scale demonstrations in Plateau State’s capital city of Jos on Sunday in response to the victory of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) candidate for governor, over Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
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Tension spread throughout the State when the verdict was announced, and people congregated in groups to talk about the events that were happening.
PDP supporters demonstrated against the verdict in huge numbers at the Gyel Roundabout in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) and at the Angwan Rukuba junction in Jos North and Riyom LGAs within the state capital.
A Mangu LGA youth leader named Hon. Pankyes Yamsat announced the protesters’ intention to protest the Appeal Court’s ruling, which removed Governor Mutfwang, during the demonstrations.
The people of the State, he added, voted for Mutfwang, the people’s choice, but the Appeal Court cut off their mandate.
“We demand that the Supreme Court uphold justice in order to overturn the Appeal Court’s decision and restore peace to the state. The mandate of the Plateau people has been stolen,” he declared.
Recall that on Sunday, Mutfwang was sacked by an Abuja Appeal Court when Leading Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant a Certificate of Return to APC candidate Nentawe Goshwe.
Declaring the Tribunal’s decision upholding Governor Mutfwang’s election to be incredibly incompetent, Justice Williams-Dawodu overturned it.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose platform Mutfwang was elected on, and the APC’s petition were dismissed by the tribunal on the grounds that they had no business interfering in its internal affairs. The court claims that this decision violates both Section 134 (C) of the Electoral Act and Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
