- APC’s Yilwatda urges Supreme Court to dismiss Governor Mutfwang’s claim, arguing that the Court of Appeal administered fair justice
- Yilwatda focuses on Mutfwang’s qualification/sponsorship, requests Supreme Court to uphold the Appeal Court’s judgment
Nentawe Yilwatda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Plateau State, is calling on the Supreme Court to dismiss Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s claim of a lack of fair hearing by the Court of Appeal. Yilwatda asserts that the appellate court has already administered justice in their case.
Last year, the Court of Appeal nullified Governor Mutfwang’s election, citing the lack of party structure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to endorse a candidate. Subsequently, Yilwatda was declared the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Governor Mutfwang, in his brief submitted to the Supreme Court, raised concerns about the lack of fair hearing in his removal as the state’s governor by the Court of Appeal.
However, Yilwatda, represented by his counsel Prof. Kayode Olatoke, responded to Mutfwang’s grounds of appeal, slated for adoption before the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Yilwatda argued that the Appeal Court provided fair hearing to all parties and rightly removed the governor.
Yilwatda’s contention focuses on the “qualification/sponsorship” of Mutfwang. He urges the Supreme Court to affirm that the PDP lacks the capacity to sponsor any candidate for the 2023 general election.
The APC candidate pointed out that previous judgments have established that the “qualification of a candidate is both a pre-election and post-election matter,” falling under the jurisdiction of both high courts and relevant election tribunals.
Yilwatda implores the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal to avoid setting a precedent of violating court orders. He requests the apex court to resolve all issues in his favour and uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal.