Plateau tribunal upholds Gov Mutfwang’s election

APC to appeal as Mutfwang extends olive branch

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Jos has upheld the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr

Nentawe Yilwatda, adding that the petition is incompetent and lacks merit.

Yilwatda, who came second in the election, challenged the declaration of Mutfwang and asked the court to declare him winner on the grounds that the PDP failed to conduct ward congresses and that there was over voting in some polling units during the election.

The petitioner also argued that the governor did not score the highest lawful votes, asking the court to declare all the votes cast for the governor as wasted votes.

Delivering judgment, chairman of the tribunal, Justice. R. IreleIfineh said the issues raised by the petitioner on party structure were pre-election matters and the petitioner lacked the locus to challenge it.

The tribunal also held that there was no evidence that Governor Mutfwang didn’t score the highest lawful votes in the election.

Meanwhile, the Plateau State chapter of APC while reacting on the judgment called on its supporters to remain calm as the candidate of the party would appeal the verdict.

In a statement, the state publicity secretary of the party, Sylvanus Naming said, “Though the tribunal judgment did not turn out in our favour, as true democrats, we still believe and have strong faith in the judiciary. We urge our members and supporters never to lose hope as this is just the first leg of the processes of a three-leg process.”

He described the judgement as a “temporary setback.”

Governor Mutfwang while reacting to the verdict, thanked the tribunal for upholding the mandate of the people and standing by the truth.

He called on the APC candidate who was the petitioner, to come and join hands with his administration and move the state forward.