The Court of Appeal will today give a ruling on the appeal filed by Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Plateau state governorship election.
Goshwe is challenging the victory of Governor Caleb Mutfwang from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reports indicate that there is a heavy military presence in Jos, particularly around the Court of Appeal complex. Soldiers have been deployed to various locations in the city as a security measure.
According to Punch, soldiers have positioned their armored tank in front of the court complex and have also stationed themselves in various strategic locations throughout the city, along with other security operatives.
Captain Oya James, the spokesperson for the Military Taskforce responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau state, spoke with the platform in Jos on Sunday about this situation. He explained that the armed soldiers are present to prevent any disruption of law and order due to protests that have arisen following a recent court of Appeal judgment. This judgment resulted in the removal of all National Assembly members elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
James said, “You know about the tension in the town due to the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal. So, there is little tension in town as the governorship election petitions will also be delivered on Sunday. And you know we have worked tirelessly to restore peace on the Plateau. So, in a situation like this, although the police being their primary responsibility is deployed, our people are only there to monitor the situation so that we don’t go back to where we are coming from and to avoid a breakdown of law and order.”
