Appeal Court Dismisses Caleb Muftwang, as it Declares Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, the Governor-Elect of Plateau State

The national chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, receives the APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, who was just announced as the winner of March 18th governorship election in the state by Court of Appeal.

The unanimous judgement at the tribunal sitting in Abuja nullifies the gubernatorial candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Caleb Muftwang as the governor of Plateau State and declares Nentawe Goshwe the winner of the 2023 governorship election.

The APC candidate, Nentawe Goshwe challenged the victory of Muftwang of PDP at the appeal court, alleging that he was not qualified to contest the election because he was validly sponsored and nominated by his political party.

The three-member panel headed by the lead Justice, Williams-Dawodu, agreed with the plaintiff by saying that the failure of the PDP to comply with the 2020 order of Plateau State’s High Court directing to conduct valid ward, local governments and state Congress before nominating its candidate for the various elective posts and the Court of Appeal’s order in CA/J1/93/2021 was a breach of the law.

In contrary of the judgement made by the panel asserted that the issue of qualification was both a pre and post election matter under section 177(c) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and section section 80 & 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.

Appeal Court in it’s verdict ordered the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return given to Mustang and issue a fresh one to Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe of All Progressive Congress (APC), as the valid winner of the election.