APC Rejects Tribunal Verdict, Heads for Appeal Court

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State has rejected the judgment of the Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal which affirmed Caleb Mutfwang as the duly elected governor of the state.

In a statement issued by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Sylvanus Namang, the APC said the party has instructed its team of lawyers to appeal the judgment immediately, describing it as a temporary setback.

Namang appealed to party members and supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding despite the outcome of the judgment against their party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Nentawe Yiltwatda.

He said: “The APC, in the state, has never been under any illusion that the journey towards reclaiming its mandate at the Gubernatorial Tribunal is going to be an easy task. We knew from the onset that it would be a painstaking and tortuous one.

“We are, through our very capable team of lawyers, just as they have already indicated, going to test the strength and veracity of today’s judgment at the Appeal Tribunal which we believe we shall emerge victorious given the severity of the loopholes contained therein.

“We have several instances in our judicial system where judgments at the Court of First Instance (the tribunal) are upturned by the Appeal Tribunals and Supreme Court respectively. 

“Today’s judgment by the Tribunal is therefore, a temporary setback which we believe we shall emerge victorious in the long run to continue to provide good governance to Plateau people based on the rule of law, fairness and justice which is totally lacking under the present PDP- led administration.

“We salute the patience, resilience and comportment of our gubernatorial candidate, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, and his Deputy, Hon. Pam Bot Mang, whom we strongly believe shall have cause to laugh last at the end of the judicial processes of the election.”

The statement also thanked party members and supporters for the maturity they exhibited throughout the period the tribunal sitting lasted and expressed the belief that APC shall have cause to laugh last at the end of the judicial processes of the election.