The governor of Plateau State, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, said he was exploring both political and legal solutions to address the injustice meted out to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers from the state who were victims of the controversial Appeal Court judgement.
Recall that the Court of Appeal had in November 2023 sacked all the 16 members of the PDP in the Plateau House of Assembly, five from the House of Representatives and two senators.
Their sack was over a pre-election matter bordering on alleged disobedience to a court’s order and lack of political structure.
In the same vein, the appellate court sacked Mutfwang on the same grounds.
However, only the governor was lucky as the Supreme Court had last week reversed the decision of the Appeal Court and upheld his election.
Speaking after paying a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja yesterday, Mutfwang expressed appreciation to Tinubu for not interfering in the Supreme Court’s judgement.
He told journalists that different options were being explored to address the issue of the sacked Plateau lawmakers.
“I think this is an ongoing discussion and I can’t tell you anything now, because we are looking at all the possible solutions, both legally, politically or otherwise. My interest is to have a peaceful state where I can focus on development and governance. And therefore, we want to ensure that we reduce all areas of friction as much as we can.
“I want to particularly thank Nigerians for the interest they have shown in the Plateau situation. We do not take it for granted. And I believe that out of the Plateau situation, our jurisprudence will be enriched and that justice will find sure footings in Nigeria in the future.”
He said his reason for visiting the president was to thank him for keeping democracy alive in Nigeria.
“I went through a very protracted legal battle and I’ve said it openly and I am repeating that the Nigerian President is a powerful President.
“And if he does not exercise restraint in the exercise of his powers, he can intrude into the judicial arena and the judiciary will not be allowed to perform its function.
“In my own case and in several others, I’m sure, we can attest to the fact that Mr. President allowed the judiciary to perform its functions as it should thereby guaranteeing its independence.
“I must put it that Mr. President choosing not to interfere is a credit to his statesmanship, it is a credit to his credentials as sound democrat, and this is the only way we can ensure that our institutions mature to the point where they can guarantee not only the survival of democracy, but also ensure that institutions should be able to survive, develop and outlived individuals,” he said.
