A House of Representatives member, Yusuf Gagdi, is facing severe criticism after boasting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State could sway the Supreme Court’s decision on the petition contesting the outcome of the state’s governorship election.
During a recent rally in the state, Mr. Gagdi was captured in a trending social media video claiming the APC’s ability to influence the Supreme Court’s judgement in its favor.
The Court of Appeal recently nullified the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and declared Nentawe Goshwe, the APC candidate, as the winner of the governorship election in the state which took place on the 18th of March.
This ruling overturned the decision of the state Governorship Election Tribunal last month which had upheld Mr. Mutfwang’s victory in the election.
Governor Mutfwang, referring to the Court of Appeal’s judgement as a temporary setback, has announced his intentions to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, has also demanded a review of the conflicting judgement, alleging bias.
Mr. Gagdi, the representative for Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau State under the APC, expressed confidence in the party’s influence over the governorship election’s Supreme Court ruling in a terse 18-second video clip. He stated, “We have gone to the Appeal Court and the final destination is the Supreme Court and we will meet there. That is where we will know who they know and they will know who we know.”
Amidst Mr. Gagdi’s remarks, audible voices in the background could be heard cheering him on for his statement.
Previously serving as the deputy speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Gagdi, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, once contended for the speakership of the current 10th House of Representatives but withdrew from the race two days before the election to support Abbas Tajudeen, the eventual victor.
Mr. Gagdi led the House ad hoc committee probing job racketeering at government parastatals, but allegations of extortion from heads of federal ministries, departments and agencies are yet to be investigated, despite the House’s commitment to do so.
Public Outcry
Several social media users, notably on X (formerly Twitter), have vehemently condemned Mr. Gagdi for openly boasting about the APC’s influence over the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the party.
@wilde_sugar expressed, “So Justice in Nigeria is about who you know and not what’s the truth or right. Nigeria is a crime scene and it has yellow tape around it. Politicians are always polarising the system.”
@SomaToken remarked, “But that is the game Court na, it’s a game good lawyers and favourable judges… Look at American judges who will sentence a black man for the same offense with his white country man. The black man will get the highest application within the Law, while his country man will get the lowest. So tell me you are not being sentimental.”
@gaustinto1 added, “I’m not even surprised anymore. A senator once narrated how he got his wife to favor his own people na.”
@ChucksBrunoOK voiced, “And a lady I respect a lot decided to marry this man, I was so shocked she could stoop that low to even share bed with this man.”
@Ozuruigbo01 contributed, “who you know and who they know, That’s how to obtain justice in Nigeria these days.”
@Uyanajahswill lamented, “The judiciary has been trapped and the court is no longer the last hope for the common man.”
@luvcsquare2real opined, “Obviously it has become a bragging right to APC, they no longer hide it. Shame on Nigeria Judiciary.”
@xamhry concluded, “So our judiciary is about who you know!”
Historical Compromise
In June, Adamu Bulkachuwa, a former senator for Bauchi North, admitted to influencing court judgements while his wife, Zainab, served as a judge and President of the Court of Appeal.
