The 16 dismissed members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have taken their case to the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the previous ruling of the same court that invalidated their elections.
Recalling that the Court of Appeal had nullified the election of all PDP lawmakers in the State Assembly due to the party’s lack of structure to endorse candidates for the election, the ousted legislators maintain their status as members of the House, citing the Supreme Court’s decision affirming Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election, which was similarly nullified by the Court of Appeal.
Led by Bala Fwanje Ndat and Datugun Paul Naankot, among others, the sacked lawmakers filed a motion on notice, with suit numbers CA/J/33M/2024 and CA/J/31/M/2024. They argue, through their counsel Garba Paul, SAN, that both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over the matter.
Their motion is grounded on the assertion that the Court’s ruling on November 24, 2023, is invalid. They seek an order to overturn the Court’s decision in appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/SHA/62/2023, Dagogot Karyt Owen & Anor Vs Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), & Ors, delivered on November 24, 2023, by E.O Williams-Dawodu, Abdul-Azez Waziri, and E.O Abang, JCAs.
They argue that the Supreme Court’s validation of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s nomination and sponsorship suffices for the Court of Appeal to reconsider its previous ruling.
It is worth noting that the lawmakers previously attempted to return to the House of Assembly, which nearly led to a political crisis in the state. However, members of the APC, who benefited from the Court of Appeal’s ruling, have yet to be sworn in by Speaker Gabriel Dewan Kudagbena, citing conflicting court orders as the basis for his decision.