The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election victory of Caleb Mutfwang from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Governor of Plateau State while rejecting the petition submitted by Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recall that Goshwe had contested the election outcome at the Tribunal, arguing that Mutfwang’s candidacy was invalid because he was not properly nominated and supported by the PDP due to the absence of a functional party structure during the election.
However, in its ruling on Friday, the Tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking in substance.
The Tribunal stated that the PDP did indeed have a valid organizational framework during the election, and Mutfwang’s nomination and sponsorship by the party were legitimate. Furthermore, the Tribunal found that the APC failed to substantiate its claims of electoral misconduct.
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The ruling that affirmed the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of Plateau State was delivered by Justice Sunday Olorundaosi on behalf of the tribunal panel.
Justice Olorundaosi, representing tribunal chairman Justice Rita Ilere-Ifijeh, rejected all three grounds presented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Regarding the first ground, which questioned Governor Mutfwang’s qualification, the tribunal deemed it a pre-election matter and outside its jurisdiction.
- Olorundaosi stated, “Ground one which was non-qualification of the candidate; the tribunal verdict is that it is status bar because it is a pre-election matter and the tribunal does have the jurisdiction to entertain it.”
On the matter of non-compliance with the electoral act, no evidence was provided by the petitioners to demonstrate that the March 18 election was not conducted in substantial compliance with INEC regulations.
What the Justice said:
- “On non-compliance with the electoral act, there is no evidence tendered before the tribunal by the petitioners that the conduct of the election of March 18, was not in accordance with substantial compliance by the first respondent, which is the INEC.”
On the third issue, which argued that Governor Mutfwang did not receive the majority of lawful votes, the tribunal believed that the burden of proof lay with the petitioners, who failed to provide sufficient evidence and relied solely on INEC’s final election result.
- “Third ground that the second respondent did score the majority of lawful votes cast; the tribunal is of the view that the burden of proof lies with the petitioners to provide evidence. “Unfortunately, they failed to do so and relied on the final result of the election declared by INEC’’