Plateau: Tribunal Validates Governor Mutfwang’s Election

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (GEPT), sitting in Jos, on Friday, September 22, 2023, upheld the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

Governor Mutfwang, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in March as the validly elected Governor of Plateau State having scored the highest number of vote cast in the election.

But, dissatisfied with the result of the governorship election as announced by INEC, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Nentawe Yilwatda and his Party challenged Mutfwang’s victory at the Election Election Petition Tribunal claiming that the PDP does not have structure and also alleged that there was over voting.

The petitioners therefore prayed the Tribunal to admit and include the votes of the 14 polling units rejected by INEC.

While delivering its judgement, the Tribunal chaired by Justice. R. Irele-Ifineh, held that the issues raised by the petitioner on party structure were pre-election matters for which the petitioners lacked the jurisdiction to challenge.

The Tribunal specifically held that the PDP actually held a repeat congress on September 25, 2021 in compliance with the order of the Jos High Court delivered by Justice S.P.Gang.

The Tribunal therefore held that Governor Mutfwang was validly elected and returned as Governor of Plateau State.