The case filed by the 16 lawmakers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the Plateau who were dismissed by the Court of Appeal has encountered a significant obstacle, in a surprising turn of events. The court promptly rejected the appeal for a review of the Appeal Court’s decision, which resulted in their removal from the Plateau State House of Assembly, on the grounds that it lacked merit.
The ruling of the court was a loss for the lawmakers who were dismissed, as their application was not only rejected but also considered an unnecessary use of the court’s time. To perpetuate the situation, the court fined each of the 16 former members who were parties to the lawsuit a whopping 8 million Naira.
This development represents a serious defeat for the lawmakers who were hoping for a different result. The first runners-up from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) were declared winners and scheduled to receive Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission after the Appeal Court’s ruling on November 24, 2023, nullified the election of all 16 PDP members.
The way is now open for Speaker of the House Rt Hon Gabriel Dewan to swear in the 16 newly elected members following the rejection of their request for a review. With this ruling, the confusion surrounding the Appeal Court’s decision is resolved, especially in light of the Speaker’s previous stance.
The Speaker had previously said that after the Supreme Court proclaimed Governor Caleb Mutfwang the legitimate governor of Plateau State, he would only acknowledge seven members of the house. Before recognising the recently elected members, he had claimed that he would wait for the court to interpret the Appeal Court’s ruling.
Now that the lawmakers’ plea was rejected by the court, the speaker’s claims are no longer valid, providing clarity to Plateau State politics.
