JOS — The 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau State House of Assembly who were sacked have returned to the Court of Appeal to seek redress for their case.
They are seeking to overturn the previous ruling by the same court that invalidated their elections. It is important to note that the Court of Appeal had previously nullified the election of all PDP lawmakers in the State Assembly, stating that their party did not have the necessary structure to endorse candidates for the election.
However, the dismissed legislators are adamant that they are still part of the House, citing the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, whose case was also invalidated by the Court of Appeal.
They believe that the Supreme Court’s ruling has proven them right.
The lawmakers who were fired, including Bala Fwanje Ndat and Datugun Paul Naankot, among others, stated in their motion on notice, with suit Nos. CA/J/33M/2024 and CA/J/31/M/2024, that according to order 6 rules 1 of the Court of Appeal, 2021, they should be reinstated into the House.
This was one of the requests made by their lawyer, Garba Paul, SAN, who argued that both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal did not have the authority to handle the case.
The legislators who were fired stated that their reasons for taking action were based on the fact that, “the judgement of the Court delivered on the 24th day of November, 2023, is a nullity.”
They are seeking “An order setting aside the decision of this Honourable Court in appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/SHA/62/2023, Dagogot Karyt Owen & Anor Vs Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), & Ors on 24th November, 2023, per E.O Williams-Dawodu, Abdul-Azez Waziri and E.O Abang, JCA.”
According to them, the Supreme Court ruling that confirmed the nomination and sponsorship of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, implies that the Court of Appeal should overturn its previous ruling.
Recall that the lawmakers had tried to return to the House of Assembly, which almost caused a political crisis in the state.
Currently, the APC members who benefited from the Court of Appeal ruling have not been sworn in by the Speaker of the House, Gabriel Dewan Kudagbena. The Speaker based his decision on conflicting court orders.
