In a seismic development that has sent ripples through Plateau State, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Okong Abang, delivered a unanimous judgment on Sunday, nullifying the election of Caleb Mutfwang as the Governor of Plateau State.
The ruling, a significant blow to the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, to withdraw Mutfwang’s Certificate of Return and bestow it upon the All Progressive Congress ,APC, Governorship candidate, Nentawe Yiltwatda.
The decision comes as a reversal of the earlier stance taken by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos, which had dismissed Yiltwatda’s petition challenging Governor Mutfwang‘s declaration as the governor of Plateau state.
The Court of Appeal, in its judgment, critiqued the Tribunal’s position, stating, “The Tribunal was in error when it said the appellants lacked the right to contest the conduct of the election.”
This marks a pivotal departure from the previous ruling, highlighting the appellate court’s distinct perspective on the matter.
Furthermore, the Court of Appeal took issue with the Tribunal’s characterization of Yiltwatda’s petition, stating, “Tribunal was hard on the appellant when it likened the appellant to one crying more than the bereaved.”
The analogy used by the Tribunal was not deemed appropriate, with the appellate court asserting that if the appellant, in this case, Yiltwatda, raises concerns about the election, it is akin to a neighbor alerting others about the misappropriation of property.
This decision reshapes the political landscape in Plateau State, injecting a fresh wave of anticipation and uncertainty. As the INEC is mandated to withdraw Mutfwang’s Certificate of Return and hand it to Nentawe Yiltwatda, the coming days are poised to witness political recalibrations and heightened tensions in the aftermath of this significant legal verdict.
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