From Andrew Ajijah, Jos
The Plateau State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital last Friday, delivered Judgement in favour of the incumbent Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
The Judgement lasted for about 2 and half hours.
Justice Sunday Olorunde Housi, struck out the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Candidate, Dr Nentawe Yilwada and declared Barr Caleb Mutfwang as winner of the Plateau governorship election.
The tribunal dismissed the petition for lack of merit, describing the petition as worthless.
It would be recalled that Barr Caleb Mutfwang had scored 5251299 votes in the February 25 governorship election to defeat Dr Nentawe Yilwada of the APC who got 481370 votes.
Under cross examination on the processes, the Tribunal held that PDP held a valid Congress in the State on 25th September 2021 which produced its Executives, therefore can not be challenged by an opposition party.
The Tribunal equally described the petition of APC and its Candidate on the validity of PDP party structure as “peeping into neighbours house without permission”
The tribunal therefore held that the issue of nomination and sponsorship of a candidate is a pre-election matter, therefore can not be entertained by the tribunal.
The tribunal dismissed all the allegations of over voting leveled against PDP in the following local governments, Riyom, Barkinladi, Jos South, Bassa. Mangu and Langtang North and threw out the petition.
According to the Tribunal, out of the 49 witnesses of the APC, 24 were polling unit agents who’s facts, according to the tribunal were base on hear say, therefore not admissible in the tribunal.
Reacting to the Judgement, lead Counsel of the APC and its Candidate, Edward Pwajok (SAN) accepted the decision of the tribunal, and appreciated that he was grateful that no cost (fine) was awarded him and his client.
