The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned the election of Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State, ruling that he was not validly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as required by the Nigerian Constitution.
The court, in a unanimous judgement on Sunday, upheld the appeal of Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who challenged Muftwang’s qualification on the grounds that the PDP failed to conduct valid ward, local governments and state congresses before selecting its candidates for the 2023 governorship election.
The court agreed with Goshwe that the PDP violated the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos in suit no: PLD/J304/2020 and the Court of Appeal order in CA/J1/93/2021, which directed the party to hold proper congresses before nominating its candidates.
The court also faulted the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for dismissing Goshwe’s petition, saying that the tribunal relied on expunged witnesses’ statements and breached the principle of fair hearing.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Muftwang and issue a fresh one to Goshwe.
