Supreme Court Reverses Caleb Mutfwang’s Sack, Confirms Him As Plateau Governor

The Supreme Court has overturned the ousting of Caleb Mutfwang and reinstated him as the governor of Plateau state.

In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.

Caleb Mutfwang scored 525,299 votes to win the election, while Nentawe Yilwatda, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 481,370 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Yilwatda and the APC contested the results, claiming irregularities.

The tribunal, led by Rita Irele-Ifijeh, dismissed the petition, asserting that the issues raised were pre-election matters and that Yilwatda and the APC lacked the legal standing to challenge them.

The tribunal also emphasized that the PDP conducted a repeat congress in compliance with a court order.

In November 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned Mutfwang’s victory, directing INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to the APC candidate.

The panel ruled that the PDP violated the court order by conducting congress in only five LGAs, rendering it invalid.

On January 12, 2024, the Supreme Court, led by Emmanuel Agim, criticized the Court of Appeal, deeming the entire case an abuse of the court process.

The Supreme Court held that issues related to the national executive council and the administration of a political party are internal affairs, beyond the jurisdiction of the tribunal or the Court of Appeal.

“The election and return of the appellant as the governor of Plateau state is hereby restored,” concluded the Supreme Court.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Supreme Court also upheld the election of Francis Nwifuru as the Governor of Ebonyi State.