The 16 sacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Plateau State house of assembly have approached the Court of Appeal, praying it to set aside its earlier judgement which nullified their election.
Recall that the court had nullified their election on the grounds that their party lacked the structure to sponsor candidates in poll.
However, the sacked lawmakers have insisted that they are still members of the house following the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming the election of the state governor, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, whose case was also nullified at the Appeal Court for the same reason.
They argued that the Supreme Court judgement has restored their mandates.
The sacked lawmakers, Messrs Bala Fwanje Ndat and Datugun Paul Naankot, among others, in their motions on notice marked CA/J/33M/2024 and CA/J/31/M/2024, said pursuant to Order 6 Rule 1 of the Court of Appeal, 2021 they are seeking “an order setting aside the decision of this Honourable court in appeal No. CA/J/EP/PL/SHA/62/2023, Dagogot Karyt Owen & Anor Vs Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), & Ors on 24th November, 2023, per E.O Williams-Dawodu, Abdul-Azez Waziri and E.O Abang, JCA.”
Their counsel, Garba Pwul, argued in the motions that both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over the subject matter.
According to him, the Supreme Court’s judgement that validated the nomination and sponsorship of Mutfwang suffices to make their reinstatement by the Court of Appeal after setting aside its earlier judgement.
