‘Dawn of new era’ — rep praises verdict sacking Mutfwang as Plateau governor

Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the house of representatives, has commended the appeal court judgment sacking Mutfwang Manasseh as governor of Plateau.

On Sunday, a three-member panel of the court led by Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu upturned Mutfwang’s election because he was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Mutfwang as the winner of the March 18 election.

Not satisfied with the results, Nentawe Yilwatda, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), filed a petition challenging the outcome of the election.

But the tribunal led by Rita Irele-Ifijeh affirmed Mutfwang’s victory.

Unfazed, the APC and its candidate filed an appeal.

On Sunday, the appellate court held that the PDP violated a court order that a valid congress be conducted to produce candidates to contest for various positions in the general election.

In nullifying the election of Mutfwang, the court ordered the electoral body to issue a fresh certificate of return to the APC candidate.

In a statement, Gagdi, who chairs the house committee on navy, said the APC victory is “the dawn of a new era in Plateau State”.

“It is the dawn of a new era in Plateau State with the victory of our Governor-Elect, Dr Nentawe Yilwada Goshwe at the Court of Appeal today, where his victory was affirmed as the legally recognized winner of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial elections in Plateau State, following the nullification of PDP’s phyric victory,” the statement reads.

“We have always indulged our teaming supporters to exercise restraint in their conducts, despite unwarranted provocation by our political opponents who unleashed all weapons of propaganda and emotional blackmail in their arsenals to sway the pendulum of justice and curry public sympathy in their desperation to hold unto power.

“Our belief in the judiciary as the bastion of justice and the last hope of the common man has always been unwavering, and we hold same in the highest esteem as we look forward to approaching the final phase of the legal tussle.”

The lawmaker who represents Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau, asked the party supporters to be “magnanimous in victory and celebrate this milestone with all sense of modesty”.

“It is my fervent prayer that our joys shall never be cut short by the evil machinations of our adversaries,” he said.

“I strongly believe the prosperity and serenity of Plateau State shall leap in bounds under the guidance of Dr Nentawe Yilwada Goshwe as the Executive Governor of the State. We shall continue to pray for the success of your administration.”