Politics
Plateau: Group Urges Tinubu, NJC To Call Appeal Court Judges To Order
A group, Plateau Youths Liberation Movement (PYLM) ha s called on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the current political crisis arising from the recent judgments of the Court of Appeal that sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang and some members of the National Assembly from the State.
Acting coordinator of the group, Joshua Jephtha, made the call in a press conference on Wednesday in Jos.
The appellate court set aside the judgement of the governorship election tribunal that upheld the election of Mr Mutfwang as governor.
It declared Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election.
The appeal court had earlier sacked some members of the National Assembly from the State, citing lack of structure as a rationale.
Mr Jephtha said that the judgements were largely considered in many quarters as a “miscarriage of justice” and called on the President to call the judges of the Appeal Court to order to save the State from impending crisis.
“PLYM is a collection of concerned youths whose interest basically rests on liberating and moving Plateau forward; our aim is to promote the unity of the State.
“The State had in the last few months enjoyed relative peace, and this is due to the concerted efforts of the state government and security agencies, unfortunately, the recent judgments are threatening the current peace.
“This is why we are calling on President Bola Tinubu to use his ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, which means hope for every Nigerian, irrespective of political inclination, to address these concerns.
“We call on the President, being the father of all, irrespective of political party, to wade into the matter to save democracy and ensure the rule of law prevails at all times,” he said.
The acting coordinator, who agreed with the recent assertion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the recent judgments, described as abnormal and totally unacceptable a situation where few persons overturn the decisions of millions of voters during elections.
He, however, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to review all the appeal court judgments on elections in Plateau State, adding that such a move would save the sinking image of the judiciary.
“We equally agree with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the judiciary makes politicians who did not participate in primaries to be named as candidates while actual winners of elections are sacked for flimsy reasons
“So, we are appealing to the NJC and other critical stakeholders in the judiciary to intervene with a view of ensuring that the right thing is done”.
“Democracy is being threatened, the court should not force leaders on the people whom they did not elect. Unfortunately, this is the current situation in Plateau.
“We urge the judges of the Supreme Court to critically look into the appeal court judgement that sacked Mutfwang with a view of reversing it.
“As renowned jurists, we are confident that you will keep your personal sentiments aside and consider the merits of the case,” he said.
The acting coordinator said that what played out in Zamfara should not be juxtaposed with that of Plateau, insisting that a cursory look at the two scenarios suggests that those drawing the comparison were merely doing it out of mischief.
“Our investigation shows that in Zamfara, the fight was between two APC groups, one led by former Gov. Abdulaziz Yari and the other led by Sen. Kabiru Marafa.
“Two groups both contested the party’s primaries. It means Marafa was constitutionally qualified to challenge Yari in court.
“But in Plateau, the APC challengers have been rightfully described by a tribunal judge as ‘meddlesome interlopers’, poke nosing into the affairs of PDP, a party they aren’t members of,” he explained.
Mr Jephtha, however, appealed to politicians in the state to learn to accept the verdict of the people during elections, adding Plateau would always be one.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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