Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has termed the ruling of an Appeal Court that fired him as a “temporary setback.”
The governor added in a statement issued through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, that the “temporary setback” will not deter him from placing the state on the path of unity, peace, and growth.
The governor urged residents of the state and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be calm, assuring them that as long as God reigns, his mandate will be safeguarded and secured.
The governor said he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal at the Supreme Court.
“He expressed strong optimism that the mandate overwhelmingly given to him by the people of Plateau State would be restored, as he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal at the Supreme Court,” the statement partly read.
Meanwhile, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have roled our drums to celebrate the verdict of the appellate court that sacked Mutfwang.
Party faithful gathered in some areas of the Tudun Wada Ring Road of the Jos North Local Government Area of the state on Sunday to express their joy with musical instruments blasting danceable tunes.
On Sunday, an Appeal Court in Abuja sacked Mutfwang.
In her ruling on Sunday, the lead Justice, Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to the candidate of the APC, Nentawe Goshwe.
Justice Williams-Dawodu set aside the judgment of the Tribunal which affirmed the election of Governor Mutfwang, describing it as highly incompetent.
According to the court, the decision of the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the APC and its candidate on the ground that the duo had no business meddling in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform Mutfwang was elected is in breach of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 134 (C) of the Electoral Act.