A group of young people hailing from all 17 local government areas of Plateau State, operating under the collective banner of Plateau Support Network (PSN), has strongly appealed to the judiciary to overturn the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal that invalidated Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s victory.
In a show of solidarity through a peaceful walk in Jos, the group passionately implored the judiciary to acknowledge and honor the mandate bestowed upon Mutfwang by the people of Plateau State. The verdict by the Court of Appeal, which nullified Governor Mutfwang’s win and those of the members of the national and state assemblies in the February 25 and March 18, 2023, general elections, citing the lack of a valid party structure for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, has sparked widespread disapproval.
Expressing the sentiments of the PSN, Sokshak Shikse, the group’s spokesperson, emphasized that Governor Mutfwang’s electoral triumph was met with exuberant celebrations that reverberated across the state for several days. Shikse remarked, “Governor Caleb Mutfwang, in validating the trust reposed in him and recognizing the dreams, aspirations, and yearnings of his people, promptly delved into the formidable task of governing. In the short span since his inauguration, his administration has made significant strides in enhancing security, infrastructure, social amenities, and human capital development, alongside other progressive endeavors.”
The PSN spokesperson further underscored that the people of Plateau have been able to witness firsthand Mutfwang’s commendable leadership within a brief period, a quality that the state has long been deprived of.
“Motivated by these formidable grounds, the Plateau Support Network (PSN), along with conscientious citizens of the state, has united here today to wholeheartedly and unequivocally support and express a vote of confidence in His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, and his administration under the banner of ‘The Time is Now’ through this solidarity march,” Shikse affirmed.
He proceeded to add, “All we seek is for the judiciary to honor and uphold the people’s mandate bestowed upon this administration and strictly adhere to the constitutional provisions in the course of adjudicating electoral petition cases. We maintain our unwavering faith in the esteemed chambers of the judiciary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, believing in the integrity and justice of her honorable justices as they preside over the electoral petition case at the Supreme Court, with divine guidance.”
In conclusion, the Plateau Support Network, through its impassioned appeal, has set the stage for a profound and consequential engagement with the highest court in the land, seeking not only justice but the preservation of the people’s will and the democratic tenets of the nation.
