Plateau State Governor Commends Judiciary for Tribunal Victory

Last updated Sep 22, 2023

The Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has commended the Nigerian Judiciary, describing it as the “last hope of the common man”.

This was in reaction to the verdict of the Governorship Election Tribunal, which on Friday upheld his election as governor of the state.

The tribunal sitting in Jos, the state capital, dismissed the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the election of Mutfwang, who contested on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the Jos High Court validated my return as the duly elected candidate of the 18th March 2023 Governorship election in Plateau State.

I want to thank God Almighty who made it possible; I want to thank the people of Plateau… pic.twitter.com/UBA26K7WLw

— Caleb Mutfwang (@CalebMutfwang) September 22, 2023

The APC and Mr Nentawe Yilwatda, Mutfwang’s rival, had challenged

the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Mutfwang as winner of the March 18 Gubernatorial Election.

The governor commended the tribunal for doing justice to the petition that challenged his victory:

“I want to thank God for the judges that ensured that justice won; I thank them for exhibiting honesty and dedication to duty.

“I thank them for working in accordance with the dictates of their conscience and the law.

“I have always been confident of our Judiciary; I have always believed that there are men who sit on the bench to give hope to the hopeless.

“Justice is not rocket science; when it is served, the people feel it.”

The governor called on his opponents to bury the hatchet and support him in his bid to rebuild Plateau State:

“I want to call on my brothers, the petitioners, that it’s time for us to unite and move the state forward.

“Litigation is a waste of energy and resources, so I want to call on them to come, let’s work together.

“I believe they have something to offer. Let’s not be influenced by external forces to put our state on the path of stagnation.”

The governor also thanked the people and called for more support for the greater good of all.

The judge, at the tribunal, had ruled that the PDP held valid congresses in the state, dismissing the opponents’ claim to the contrary.

The tribunal also held that the issue of nomination and sponsorship of a candidate was solely a pre-election matter.

NAN