Former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Tapgun, has asked Governor Caleb Mutfwang to congratulate his rival, Nentawe Yilwatda, as the governor-elect of the state.
Gov urges calm, optimistic of victory at apex court.
Former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Tapgun, has asked Governor Caleb Mutfwang to congratulate his rival, Nentawe Yilwatda, as the governor-elect of the state.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had sacked Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election. It ruled that Mutfwang was not validly nominated as PDP candidate for the election.
Yilwatda had gone to the appellate court after the Governorship and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos upheld Mutfwang’s election.
Tapgun aligned himself with the ruling of the appellate court, that as at the time Mutfwang was nominated as the candidate, PDP had no structure as a result of internal wrangling that rocked the party and its inability to obey the judgment of Justice S.P. Gang of the Jos High Court, which asked the party to go and conduct a congress to elect a proper State Executive Council (SEC).
Speaking with newsmen in his Jos residence, yesterday, the former governor said it would amount to waste of time and resources, if Mutfwang proceeds to the Supreme Court because the case had been won and lost.
He described the fate that had befallen the party as self-inflicted. Tapgun said he forewarned PDP that it would have a Zamfara scenario in its hands if care was not taken.
But the governor has told the citizens to be calm and united following the mandate they gave him, which was upturned by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Plateau citizens, at the weekend, turned out enmasse to receive Governor Mutfwang at Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, as he returned to the state one week after the Court of Appeal verdict.
The crowd, who converged on the airport and other strategic locations in Jos, reaffirmed their support to the governor and expressed confidence in the Supreme Court for fairness and justice.
