Plateau youths storm streets to condemn appeal court judgment sacking Gov Mutfwang

Residents of Jos, the capital of Plateau, have rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

News Agency of Nigeria • November 19, 2023

Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang [Photo Credit: Facebook – Gyang Bere]

Residents of Jos, the capital of Plateau, have rejected the judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The residents called for the review of all the judgements delivered by the court on the Plateau elections during a peaceful protest on Sunday in Jos.

The appellate court on Sunday set aside the judgment of the governorship election tribunal that upheld the election of Mr Mutfwang as the governor.

The court declared Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election. It ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to Mr Yilwatda.

But the residents described the judgment as an “injustice.”

Philemon Jangkam, the youth leader of Angwan Rukuba Junction, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review all the judgments regarding the 2023 elections in Plateau.

“We started noticing the injustice when the Court of Appeal sacked Rep Isaac Kwallu, Senator Simon Mwadkon, Rep Dachung Bagos, and other lawmakers.

“We, the youth of this community, are not happy and we will not accept these judgments. We will continue to protest until this judgement and the ones that sacked our national assembly members are reviewed,” said Mr Jankam.

Another youth, Samson Iliya, described the judgement as a deliberate subversion of the people’s will, adding that the peaceful protest was to express their displeasure with the judiciary.

“We are out here to express our displeasure over the appeal court judgements on the Plateau elections. We call on the NJC to review all the judgements so as to redeem the sinking image of the judiciary,” noted Mr Iliya.

He added, “We massively voted for the governor and the sacked lawmakers; they are the choices of the majority of Plateau people, and we will not allow the judiciary to decide who should lead us.”

Pankyes Yanksat, a youth from Gyero Junction, advised Mr Mutfwang to challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court immediately.

Mr Yanksat, who expressed optimism that Mr Mutfwang’s mandate would be restored, called on the apex court justices to keep emotions aside and go by the merits of the matter.

The protesters were later dispersed by security personnel.

(NAN)

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