The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified the election of Caleb Mutfwang as the Governor of Plateau State.
The appellate court, led by Justice Okong Abang, delivered a unanimous judgment on Sunday, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Mutfwang’s Certificate of Return and award it to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nentawe Yiltwatda.
The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos had previously dismissed Nentawe’s petition challenging Mutfwang’s declaration as the duly elected governor of the state. However, the Court of Appeal overturned this decision, emphasizing that the tribunal erred in stating that the appellants lacked the right to contest the election’s conduct.
Justice Abang remarked during the ruling, “The tribunal was in error when it said the appellants lacked the right to contest the conduct of the election. The tribunal was hard on the appellant when it likened the appellant to one crying more than the bereaved. If the appellant finds his neighbor with a goat that doesn’t belong to him, there is nothing wrong if he complains or raises the alarm.”
The decision has far-reaching implications, prompting INEC to immediately withdraw Mutfwang’s Certificate of Return. Nentawe Yiltwatda is now set to assume the governorship position as declared by the Court of Appeal.
The political landscape in Plateau State is expected to witness changes in the wake of this ruling, and further details will be provided as the situation unfolds.
