16 Sacked Plateau PDP Lawmakers Head Back To Court, Seek Reinstatement

The 16 sacked Plateau lawmakers under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to set aside the earlier judgement of the same court that nullified their elections.

Osun Defender reports that the lawmakers were sacked by the Court of Appeal on the ground that their party lacked the structure to sponsor candidates in the election.

However, following the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, whose case was also nullified at the Court of Appeal, the sacked legislators have insisted that they are still members of the House.

The lawmakers believed that the Supreme Court’s judgement had vindicated them.

The sacked lawmakers, including Bala Fwanje Ndat and Datugun Paul Naankot, among others, in their motion on notice, with suit No: CA/J/33M/2024 and CA/J/31/M/2024, said under order 6 rules 1 of the Court of Appeal, 2021, they should be reinstated into the House.

Their counsel, Garba Paul, SAN in his relief, argued that both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter.

The sacked legislators said their ground as contained in the motions was predicated upon the fact that “the judgement of the Court delivered on the 24th day of November 2023, is a nullity.”

They are seeking “An order setting aside the decision of this Honourable court in appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/SHA/62/2023, Dagogot Karyt Owen & Anor Vs Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), & Ors on 24th November 2023, per E.O Williams-Dawodu, Abdul-Azez Waziri and E.O Abang, JCA.”

According to them, the Supreme Court judgement that validated the nomination and sponsorship of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, suffices that the Court of Appeal should set aside its earlier judgement.