Appeal Court Declares Nentawe Of APC Winner of 2023 Guber Polls in Plateau...Nullifies Election Of PDP's Mutfwan As Governor Of The State.

Dr. Nentawe Y. Goshwe

Zakari Isah - Kaduna

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the election of Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, Nentawe Goshwe, as the winner of the 2023 election.

A three-member panel, in a unanimous decision on Sunday, held that Muftwang was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as provided by Section 285(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

The Court held that the appeal brought by Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) succeeded as the issue of qualification was both a pre and post-election matter under Section 177(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, and Sections 80 and 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The panel then agreed with the appellant (Goshwe) that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos in suit no: PLD/J304/2020 between Bitrus B. Kaze & 11 ors vs the Peoples Democratic Party & 24 ors directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts and the Court of Appeal order in CA/J1/93/2021 was a breach of the law.

Therefore,  the panel set aside the judgement of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for being “highly inconsistent and breach of fair hearing by relying on expunged witnesses’ statements to refuse Goshwe’s appeal”.

The panel ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Muftwang and issue a fresh one to Goshwe.

Meanwhile, there has been jubilation galore in the APC camp, and amongst its supporters.

The member representing PKK and chairman of, the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gadgi in a statement on Sunday said, ” It is the dawn of a new era in Plateau State with the victory of our Governor-Elect, Dr. Nentawe Yilwada Goshwe at the Court of Appeal today, where his victory was affirmed as the legally recognized winner of March 18, 2023, gubernatorial elections in Plateau State, following the nullification of PDP’s phyric victory.”

He said, “We have always indulged our teaming supporters to exercise restraint in their conducts, despite unwarranted provocation by our political opponents who unleashed all weapons of propaganda and emotional blackmail in their arsenals to sway the pendulum of justice and curry public sympathy in their desperation to hold unto power.”

“Our belief in the judiciary as the bastion of justice and the last hope of the common man has always been unwavering, and we hold same in the highest esteem as we look forward to approaching the final phase of the legal tussle.”

“While I call on all APC supporters to be magnanimous in victory and celebrate this milestone with all sense of modesty, it is my fervent prayer that our joys shall never be cut short by the evil machinations of our adversaries.”

“I strongly believe the prosperity and serenity of Plateau State shall leap in bounds under the guidance of Dr. Nentawe Yilwada Goshwe as the Executive Governor of the State. We shall continue to pray for the success of your administration”, he added.