Plateau guber case: ‘Respect people’s mandate’ — Group urges Supreme Court

A group of youths from across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State, under the aegis of Plateau Support Network, PSN, has called on the judiciary to reverse the judgement of the Court of Appeal that sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

During the solidarity walk in Jos, the group urged the judiciary to recognise the mandate given by the people of Plateau State to Mutfwang.

Recall that Governor Mutfwang’s victory and indeed that of members of the national and state assemblies that participated in the February 25 and March 18, 2023, general elections were nullified by the Court of Appeal last month.

The court cited that their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had no structure in the state and the candidates were therefore not validly nominated.

The judgement has evoked condemnations.

PSN’s spokesman, Sokshak Shikse, said Mutfwang’s victory at the polls “was received with wild celebrations across the state, which lasted for days on end.”

According to him: “Governor Caleb Mutfwang, in justifying the mandate given to him and being cognisant of the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of his people, immediately swung to the onerous action of governance.

“Within months after his inauguration, his administration made tangible progress in providing security, roads and amenities, and human capital development, among other developmental strides.”

The PSN spokesperson further averred that the people of Plateau have, within a short time, witnessed Muftwang’s exemplary leadership, a quality that he said the state has been bereft of for many years.

“These and much more are the reasons the Plateau Support Network (PSN) and indeed responsible citizens of the state have gathered here to express our unequivocal, unalloyed, and resounding support and vote of confidence for His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, and his ‘The Time is Now’ administration through this solidarity walk,” he stated.

Shikse said further: “We only ask that the courts recognise and respect the mandate given by the people to this administration and strictly adhere to the provisions of the constitution regarding the process of its judgements at the petitions tribunal.

“We have faith in the hallowed chambers of the judiciary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and believe that her worthy justices will execute temperance and an unwavering sense of justice while hearing and judging the election petition case at the Supreme Court, God helping them.”