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.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.
A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity. In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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