BREAKING: Supreme Court Delivers Crucial Judgement on Plateau Governor Mutfwang’s Sack
- In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court reiterated that internal party matters, including nomination and sponsorship, were not grounds for voiding an election
- This was contained in a judgement delivered by the apex court on Friday, January 12, 2024
- Mutfwang's resilience in the face of legal challenges paid off as the apex court declared him the duly elected governor, reinforcing the democratic process in Plateau state
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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
The Supreme Court has delivered its much-anticipated judgment on the Plateau state governorship election dispute.
Source: Facebook
In a judgement delivered on Friday, January 12, the apex court affirmed Caleb Mutfwang's election, further declaring him as the duly elected governor of Plateau state, TVC News reported.
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How the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Governor Caleb Mutfwang
According to the results declared by INEC, Governor Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 525,299 votes to beat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nentawe Yilwatda, who garnered 481,370 votes during the March 18 governorship poll in Plateau state.
The Plateau state governorship election petition tribunal in Jos upheld the governor's election.
However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned the victory, necessitating Mutfwang's appeal at the Supreme Court.
Friday's final judgment on Plateau state guber dispute
The Supreme Court court pointed out that the validity of nomination and sponsorship is not a valid ground to void an election, Premium Times reported.
The judge held that:
"We have held in a plethora of cases that the sponsorship of candidate for election is an internal affair of a political party.
"The court of appeal lacks the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the candidacy of the PDP," Justice Agim holds.
"Mr Yilwatda of the APC has no right to challenge the emergence of Governor Mutfwang as a ticket-holder of the PDP, the justice adds."
Governor Otu secures victory at Supreme Court
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River, a candidate of the APC, secured a major victory in the suit seeking to sack him as governor of the South-South state.
In a judgment on Friday, January 12, the Supreme Court dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeal seeking to sack the APC governor.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju held that the PDP, in its appeal, failed to prove its case.
Supreme Court returns Francis Nwifuru as Ebonyi governor
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that the Supreme Court on Friday, January 12, dismissed the appeal challenging the election of Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state.
A five-member panel of justices on Friday unanimously held that the appeal by Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the PDP lacked merit.
Justice Tijani Abubakar held that Odii and the PDP failed to prove allegations of non-qualification to contest the election and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 in the election.
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Source: Legit.ng
