APC loses as Supreme Court reverses sack of Plateau Gov Mutfwang

The Supreme Court has reversed the Court of Appeal’s judgment from November of the previous year that removed Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State from office on the grounds of unlawful nomination.

The apex court ruled that the Court of Appeal made a fundamental error by allowing the All Progressives Congress (APC) to interfere in the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election process, characterizing it as an internal matter within political parties.

Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, delivering the lead judgment, emphasized that the conduct of primary elections for the nomination of a governorship candidate is solely the responsibility of the National Executive Committee of a political party.

Justice Agim highlighted that the issue of the alleged improper conduct of ward and local government elections, which was used as a basis to remove the governor, is not justiciable. He noted that the conduct of such elections falls under the purview of the State Executive Committee of a political party.

The Supreme Court held that there was no evidence of irregularities in the Governorship primary election in Plateau State, and questioned the basis for nullifying the gubernatorial poll based on issues related to the ward election. Justice Agim nullified and set aside the Court of Appeal’s order for the inauguration of Nentawe Goshwehe, the APC’s governorship candidate, as Plateau State Governor.

The Supreme Court, in affirming the judgment of the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, dismissed the APC’s petition, bringing clarity and finality to the legal dispute over the governorship election in Plateau State.