As the Plateau State House of Assembly prepares to resume plenary today (Tuesday), a contentious situation looms as 16 lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) express their intent to resume legislative duties despite being sacked by the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had, in November, nullified the election of all 16 PDP members in the state House of Assembly, citing the party’s alleged lack of structure to nominate them as candidates. However, the lawmakers contend that the Supreme Court’s subsequent ruling, upholding the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the same issue, renders the Court of Appeal’s decision a nullity.
Addressing the media in Jos on Monday, the 16 lawmakers, led by former Majority Leader Yobo Ishaku, emphasized their commitment to democracy and willingness to return to legislative duties. Ishaku argued, “The verdict of the Court of Appeal is a nullity, and we are disregarding that judgment in its entirety.”
The PDP lawmakers called for sanctions against the President of the Court of Appeal under whose watch they were sacked, appealing to President Bola Tinubu and heads of the Nigerian judiciary.
In response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State condemned the planned resumption of the sacked PDP lawmakers, deeming it an “invitation to anarchy and a threat to democracy.” The APC insisted that the PDP lawmakers remained sacked under the law, accusing them of plotting an assault on democracy and insurrection against the state.
The APC’s Publicity Secretary, Sylvanus Namang, stated, “The APC and all peace-loving citizens of Plateau State had expected that he ought not to be walking the streets as a free citizen following his inflammatory outbursts.”
