The Court of Appeal in Nigeria has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return given to Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State. The court also declared Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress the rightful winner of the March 18 governorship election, ordering INEC to issue a new Certificate of Return to him.
The court has sacked at least three governors whose elections were contested by opposing parties and deemed one election inconclusive, just nine months after the elections.
Abba Kabir Yusuf (NNPP) was sacked by the Election Petitions Tribunal, which invalidated his election by declaring 165,663 votes as invalid. The court upheld the tribunal’s decision, stating that Yusuf was not on his political party’s membership list.
Abdullahi Sule (APC) was sacked by the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and ordered INEC to revoke his Certificate of Return and give it to David Ombugadu of the PDP.
Dauda Lawal (PDP) was declared the winner of the Zamfara State governorship election, but his petition was dismissed due to lack of merit.
Caleb Mutfwang (PDP) who challenged Mutfwang’s victory, has directed his legal team to submit an appeal with the Supreme Court, hoping that the mandate bestowed upon him by the people of the state would be reinstated.
