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•Rep hails judgment, protest in Jos, police warns trouble markers
From Jude Dangwam, Jos and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
There were jubilation and protest, in Jos yesterday, as the Appeal Court nullified the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
The Court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to withdraw his certificate of return and issue a new one to Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yilwatda had appealed against the judgment of the state Governorship and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which had dismissed the petition he brought against Mutfwang’s election.
Yilwatda dedicated his victory to God and the people of the state.
He said judgement was humbling and uplifting in many respects, particularly as it concerns him and deputy, Pam Bot-Mang as well as the entire APC family.
He commended the Justices of the Court of Appeal for the unanimity of opinion in the judgement delivered.
Reacting, Governor Mutfwang described the verdict as a temporary setback that would not deter him from repositioning the state on the path of unity, peace and progress. He said he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal at the Supreme Court and expressed strong conviction that the mandate overwhelmingly given to him by the people would be restored.
Governor Mutfwang in a statement admonished citizens of the state and supporters of the PDP to remain calm and assured them that as long as God remains on the throne, the mandate of the people would be preserved and protected.
He reiterated his commitment to the rule of law and assured the people that there was light at the end of the tunnel, as he has unwavering faith in the judiciary and the constitution of Nigeria. He appeal to supporters, as well as citizens of the state to maintain law and order.
The PDP said it would respond to the verdict after studying the judgment. “We will study the judgment and we will react,” the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said.
Prior to the judgment, the PDP had called for disbandment of the Plateau State Appeal panel for allegedly giving contradictory verdicts in cases involving PDP candidates. It stated that the continued stay of the Appeal panel was “vexatious.” It also accused the APC of seeking to foist a one party state on the country through INEC and the judiciary.
The PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, at a press briefing, in Abuja, last week, had accused the APC of using the election petition tribunals and appeal panels to snatch the party’s victory in some states, including Plateau.
Residents reject
Regardless of the governor’s appeal, residents of Jos have staged a peaceful protest to express their rejection of the judgment. They described the judgement on the governorship polls and other judgments of the appeal court on Plateau elections as a clear ”injustice”
Mr. Philemon Jangkam, youth leader of Angwan Rukuba Junction, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review all the judgments on Plateau elections.
“We will continue to protest untill this judgment and the ones that sacked our national assembly members are reviewed,” he said.
On his part, Samson Iliya, described the judgment as a deliberate subversion of the people’s will, adding that the peaceful protest was to express their alright displeasure with the judiciary.
Mr. Pankyes Yanksat, another youth from Gyero Junction, advised Mutfwang to immediately challenge the judgement at the Supreme Court. Yanksat, who expressed optimism that Mutfwang’s mandate would be restored, called on the judges of the apex court to keep emotions aside and go by the merits of the matter.
The protesters were later dispersed by security personnel.
Rep lauds Yilwada’s victory
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, has expressed confidence that Plateau would witness prosperity and serenity of under the leadership of Yilwada as the governor of the state.
“We have always indulged our teeming 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.”
Police warns trouble markers
The Police Command has warned against any act by individual or group of people capable of plunging the state into crisis following.
It said it had received credible intelligence which revealed that some hoodlums and criminally-minded individuals were planning to disrupt the peace currently being enjoyed in the State.
The Commissioner of Police, Okoro J. Alawari, in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Alfred Alabo, warned that such persons should abort their criminal intentions which has the potential of causing chaos and breach of peace in the State.
He also urged all members of the public to respect the verdict of the Court, maintain calm across the state and refrain from any actions that could incite violence or cause harm to lives and property of the citizenry.
The CP implored all aggrieved parties to do the right thing by seeking redress in a higher Court of law and allow peace prevail in the State.
He appealed to parents, guardians, religious and traditional leaders to caution their wards, subjects and followers against participating in any form of misconduct that may disrupt the peace of the State as the Command will not hesitate to deal decisively with any one found culpable in accordance with the relevant laws.
