On Sunday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja unanimously nullified the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
The three-member panel of Justices concluded that Mutfwang wasn’t validly nominated or sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the gubernatorial contest held on March 18.
The court ruled that all votes credited to Mutfwang and the PDP were considered wasted votes.
Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu led the panel and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Mutfwang’s Certificate of Return previously issued as the winner of the governorship poll.
Consequently, the candidate with the second-highest lawful votes from the election will be sworn in as the governor of the state.
This judgment stemmed from an appeal lodged against Governor Mutfwang’s election by the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Mr. Nentawe Goshwe.
INEC had declared Mutfwang of the PDP as the winner with 525,299 votes, surpassing Goshwe, who secured 481,370 votes.
Goshwe contested the election’s outcome, alleging that the PDP lacked a political structure in the state, making its candidate’s nomination invalid.
He also argued that the election didn’t adhere to the Electoral Act and that Mutfwang did not win the majority of lawful votes.
Previously, the tribunal dismissed Goshwe’s petition for lacking merit, but dissatisfied, he appealed to the appellate court, reiterating that Mutfwang lacked the proper platform and qualification to contest.
He further alleged over-voting and non-compliance with electoral provisions.
In response, Mutfwang’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, stating that the nomination and sponsorship of a candidate are internal affairs of a political party.
The appellate court, comprising Justices Irele-Ifijeh, Mustapha, and Abang, ultimately upheld the appeal and nullified Governor Mutfwang’s election, based on the grounds presented by Goshwe and the APC.
