As the legal battle in the Plateau state Governorship Election draws closer, the APC candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has firmly criticized the Appeal petition filed by the embattled governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang Manasseh.
In a statement made available to journalists Nentawe kicked against the brief of arguments served on him by the appellant, where he earlier brought out five issues for determination by the Apex Court.
In a response filed by his lead counsel Professor Kayode Olatoke SAN, Nentawe stated that the judgement of the Appeal Court delivered on the 19th November, 2023 against Mutfwang is justified.
He said, based on non-qualification of Mutfwang in that he was not sponsored by the PDP necessitated the challenge of his (Mutfwang) mandate as elected governor of Plateau State.
The governor-elect noted that Mutfwang was not qualified to have contested in the gubernatorial elections by virtue of non-sponsorship.
He stated that S.134(1) (a) of the Electoral Act, provides the bases of Appeal to a petitioner to challenge the election such as the said election, if the person who won, was not eligible to contest.
He went further to point out that once an electoral body declares a winner after an election, the complaint ceases to be a pre-election matter, if it is raised by another candidate in the election, or a political party that participated in the said contest.
Nentawe strongly debated that S.133(1) (a) and (b) of the Electoral Act, 2023, provides credence to his position to seek legal action on the qualification of Mutfwang to partake in the governorship poll.
He maintained that, the fact that the words nomination and sponsorship was used many times in his petition, it does not make his case PDP’s home affairs.
Nentawe however maintained that though Mutfwang has not denied the existence and binding effect of a Jos High Court order, he rather chose to argue toughly that the trial tribunal and the Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to decide on the issue of invalid sponsorship.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has scheduled January 9 2024 for hearing on the legal battle between APC’s Nentawe Yiltwada Goshwe and PDP’s Mutfwang Caleb Manasseh.
