By Williams Amofokhai
The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital has sacked Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang from office.
The court held that Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) actually won the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.
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.
According to the panel, the appeal filed by Goshwe was in order as the issue of qualification was both a pre and post election matter under Section 177(c) of the Nigerian Construction, 1999 and Section 80 and 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The panel held 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.
The Alarmee reports that the three-member panel ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued Muftwang and issue it to the APC’s candidate.
