Appeal Court Judgement Sacking Plateau Governor Dangerous for Democracy, Warns CSO

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

National Civil Society Consultative Forum on Election Integrity has warned that the judgment of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, which annulled the Plateau state governorship election won by Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, if left unattended to will pose danger to the country’s hard earned democracy and also breed hatred and voter apathy in subsequent elections.

The Convener of the Forum, Salaudeen Hashim delivered the admonition on Tuesday when the civil society organisations addressed the media on the state of the electoral system in the country with regard to threat to multi-party system, court orders and judicial independence post 2023 general elections.

Hashim noted the Appeal Court panel had based its decision on the premise that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State had no valid structure and had violated a state high court order that directed the party to conduct fresh congresses in the state.

“However, this claim is contradicted by the fact that the political party had complied with the court order and held a legitimate state congress on the 25th of September 2021, where delegates from all the 17 local government areas of the state participated and elected their representatives.

“Therefore, the Appeal Court judgment that sacked all the elected members in the state, including the Governor, is seen as unjust, unfair, and baseless and we join our voices with legal luminaries, such as Femi Falana SAN, Daniel Bwala, Kalu Agu, and several Nigerian citizens, who have rejected and condemned the verdict and appeal to the Supreme Court to correct the anomaly,” Hashim said.

The CSO urged all stakeholders, including political parties, electoral bodies, and the general public, to respect and uphold the independence of the judiciary, noting that a fair and impartial judicial system is essential for the peaceful conduct of elections and the overall stability of the democratic process.

It also in fairness to the electoral process requested for a judicial review in Plateau State in addition to providing adequate resources, training, and support for the judiciary to fulfill its crucial role in resolving electoral disputes and upholding the principles of justice.

It urged executive to abstain from pressuring election officials, judges, candidates, NGOs, and stakeholders to maintain electoral process fairness.