Reactions have continued to trail the Appeal Court’s sacking of all state and federal lawmakers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State.
Speaking on the matter, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who had his governorship election annulled by the appellate court but reversed by the Supreme Court, harped on the need for justice and fairness.
The Guardian reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, had in a sweeping verdict in November last year, sacked all 16 members of the PDP in the Plateau State House of Assembly, five PDP members of the House of Representatives and two senators from the state over a pre-election matter bordering on alleged disobedience to a court order and lack of political structure.
Similarly, the appellate court sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the same grounds.
However, only Governor Mutfwang was lucky enough as the apex court last week reversed the decision of the Appeal Court and upheld Mutfwang’s election.
While some Nigerians have called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to enable all electrical cases terminate at the apex court, others have asked the effected lawmakers to approach the Appeal Court for a review in the light of the Supreme Court judgement.
Answering question from The Guardian when he visited the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja on Wednesday, the Governor thanked Nigerians for the concern shown on the matter, even as he underscored the need for justice, fairness and equity.
His words: “We are particularly grateful for the concerns Nigerians have shown. At the moment there is no clear-cut answer to the question but I can tell you that discussions are ongoing. So it’s work in progress. And when we are done, I am sure Nigerians will get to know the path we have chosen to take.
“At the end of it, this concern for justice is well noted and I pray that it becomes one of the values for our national existence. That if in every facet of life, we insist on justice, fairness and equity I believe Nigeria will become a great country”.
He said the purpose of the visit was to thank the Fund for its interventions across the three beneficiary institutions in the state.
Responding, TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono applauded the rate of completion of projects in the state, adding that five research proposals in Plateau State would benefit from the Federal Government’s N5.1billion research grants.
