The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos on Friday dismissed the Petition of the All Progressive Congress APC, seeking the nullification of the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the People’s Democratic Party PDP.
Delivering its judgement, the tribunal held that the APC petition is lacking in merit and reaffirms the bictory of Mutfwang as the duly elected Governor of Plateau state.
The Judgement of the Plateau Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was held under the presence of heavy security personnel with major roads leading to the state high court complex, venue for the judgement cordoned off.
While delivering the judgement, Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi held that the PDP actually held a repeat congress on the 25th of September, 2021 in compliance with the order of the Jos High Court given by Justice S.P.Gang and it’s findings revealed that no member of PDP complained against the outcome of the repeat congress.
MUST READ: Tribunal affirms election of Plateau Governor, Caleb Mutfwang
The Tribunal also described the petitioners as meddlesome interlopers and held that no political party can challenge the activities of another and likened the petitioners to a man standing in his compound but peeping through the fence of his neighbour.
On the second and third grounds of the petitioners, which has to do with non compliance with the electoral act 2022 and that Governor Mutfwang did not score the majority of the valid votes cast during the Plateau Governorship election, the Tribunal said that there was no evidence before it that the March 18 Governorship Election conducted did not comply with the 2022 electoral act and the petitioners expert witness should have done better in his submission.
The Tribunal consequently dismissed the petition and ruled that the election and declaration of the second respondent, Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the winner of the Governorship election held in Plateau State on 18th March 2023 stands.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
