The Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly Rt Hon Gabriel Dewan has said that only eight lawmakers are recognized by him as members of the State Assembly following the supreme court judgement which affirmed the election of Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of the state after the court of appeal nullified the election.
Dewan who disclosed this in Jos while interacting with journalist said that the action of the supreme court which is the highest court of the land had concealed the earlier position of the lower court (appeal court) which according to him “as it stands now only eight recognised are recognised as members in the assembly”.
The lawmaker said that as speaker he is a leader of all, irrespective of political party, and he will carry every body along in his leadership despite coming from the opposition and a minority party the Young People’s Party (YPP).
According to him the sixteen lawmkers who were affirmed by the court of appeal will not be recognised for now pending the determination and further interpretation of the supreme court judgement, the highest court of the land which has so far said the actions and judgement of the appeal court is faulty and an abuse of court processes. The Court of Appeal had sacked both state and federal lawmakers elected under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This decision has reportedly been appealed for the determination of the supreme court judgement as they are now calling for their judgement to be upturned by the highest court of the land including that of the national assembly members.
The Supreme Court in a landmark judgment on Friday 12th January, 2024 unanimously upheld the election of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of the state.
Muftwang’s victory at the March 18, 2023 poll was upheld by the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos, but was upturned by the appeal court, declaring declaring Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election.
The Appeal Court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts was a breach of the law.
The court, for the same reason, sacked all federal and state lawmakers elected under the platform of PDP in the state.
Reading the judgment of the apex court on Friday, Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the APC and its candidate are not members of the PDP and cannot challenge the primary election of the PDP.
He also held that the tribunal and court of appeal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the issues of nomination, qualification and sponsorship.
Agim noted that the petition of the APC in the first place was an abuse of the court process and faulted the appeal court for sacking the governor.
He said, “The petition by the APC and its candidates are abuse of the court process”.
“I wonder why the matter came to court at all. This appeal is allowed.”
“My worry is that a lot of people have suffered as a result of this,” Justice John Okoro said while agreeing with the lead judgment.
Nigeria Star News 