APC rejects Plateau Tribunal’s judgement affirming PDP’s Mutfwang
….heads to appeal
The All Progressives Congress in Plateau state has rejected the judgement of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, as the duly elected Governor of Plateau State.
In a statement obtained on Saturday, which was signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC,Sylvanus Namang, said the party had instructed its team of lawyers to appeal the judgement describing it as a temporary set back.
“Though the Tribunal judgment did not turn out in our favour , as true democrats, we still believe and have strong faith in the judiciary.
“We are, through our very capable team of lawyers, just as they have already indicated, going to test the strength and veracity of today’s judgment at the Appeal Tribunal which we believe we shall emerge victorious given the severity of the loopholes contained therein,” the statement partly read.
Namang appealed to party members and supporters to remain calm,peaceful and law abiding despite the outcome of the judgment .
The statement also thanked party members and supporters for the maturity they exhibited through-out the period the Tribunal sitting lasted
The statement added, “The APC in the state has never been under any illusion that the journey towards reclaiming its mandate at the Gubernatorial Tribunal is going to be an easy task. We knew from the onset that it would be a painstaking and turtuous one.
“We have several instances in our judicial system where judgments at the Court of First Instance i.e the Tribunal are upturned by the Appeal Tribunals and Supreme Court respectively.
“Friday’s judgement by the Tribunal is therefore, a temporary setback which we believe we shall emerge victorious in the long run to continue to provide good governance to Plateau people based on rule of law, fairness and justice which is totally lacking under the present PDP- led administration.”
Our correspondent had reported that the Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday affirmed Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of the state.
A three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress and it’s Governorship candidate, Nentawe Yiltwatda delivered the judgment on Friday morning.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Mutwang of the Peoples Democratic Party the winner of the March 18 governorship election with 525,299 beating 17 other candidates including Yiltwatda who polled 481,370.
Yiltwatda and his party, APC, had approached the tribunal to disqualify Mutfwang and declare him the winner of the election, while claiming to have polled the highest valid votes cast.
