Sixteen lawmakers from the Plateau State House of Assembly, affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have taken their case to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn a previous ruling that invalidated their election. The Court of Appeal had nullified the election of all PDP lawmakers in the State Assembly due to their party’s alleged lack of structure to sponsor candidates. However, the sacked legislators, supported by the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election, are pushing for reinstatement into the House.
These lawmakers, including Bala Fwanje Ndat and Datugun Paul Naankot, believe that the Supreme Court’s decision has vindicated them. Their legal representative, Garba Paul, SAN, argued that both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter. They are pursuing a motion seeking to be reinstated into the House, citing the Supreme Court’s validation of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s nomination and sponsorship as grounds for setting aside the Court of Appeal’s earlier judgment.
The lawmakers’ attempt to return to the House of Assembly had previously sparked a potential political crisis in the state, as the APC members, beneficiaries of the Court of Appeal judgment, are yet to be sworn in by the Speaker of the House, Gabriel Dewan Kudagbena. The Speaker’s delay in swearing in the new members is based on conflicting court orders, adding further complexity to the situation.
The ongoing legal battle and political tensions surrounding the reinstatement of these lawmakers depict a power struggle with significant implications for Plateau State’s governance and political landscape.
