22 facts that sent PDP packing in Plateau

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Comrade Iliya Mark

The Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and his party the PDP over his sack by the Court of Appeal. While attention is on what the apex court will decide, there is desperate last minute propaganda, misinformation, judicial attacks and disinformation by the outgoing temporary PDP government and its herd of hired supporters to fabricate lies to divert attention from its self-inflicted political tsunami that has continued to sweep its fortunes from the political map of the State and nation at large.

For a better, simple and clear understanding, here are 22 quick facts on why and how PDP has been sent packing from Plateau State from political positions it allegedly “won” during the 2023 elections:

1. PDP conducted a fraudulent elections for its State EXCO in 2020 where many of its members were shut out against the provisions of its constitution in order to please its alleged “godfather” former Governor Jonah Jang who claims to be the all in all of the party. One Hon. Chris Hassan allegedly emerged Chairman. When the aggrieved members complained, they were asked to go to court.
2. Led by former member, House of Representatives Hon. Bitrus Kaze, the aggrieved members approached the High Court of Justice in Jos with their complaints.
3. Justice S.P Gang presided over the matter and granted the reliefs of the aggrieved PDP members by ordering the conduct of a fresh party primaries. Effectively, his judgement meant that the party in Plateau State has NO VALID STRUCTURE TO CONDUCT ANY LEGITIMATE BUSINESS.
4. Rather than comply with the court order, the Chris Hassan led “Exco” ignored the order and carried on as if nothing happened. They failed to abide and carry out the order of a validity constituted court. They boldly decided to thrash the order of the court by constituting a so-called Caretaker Committee.
5. When Plateau Local Government elections were to hold in September 2021, the Chris Hassan “Exco” submitted a list of candidates to Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC). Hon. Bitrus Kaze and his aggrieved colleagues kicked and petitioned PLASIEC reminding it of the subsisting judgement of Justice S.P Gang which was yet to be complied with.
6. Rather than go back to do the right thing, the structure-less PDP approached another high court in Jos to protest. This time, Justice Ishaku Kunda presided. He again affirmed the need for them to comply with the judgement of Justice S.P Gang and refused to grant their wish to participate in the upcoming Local Government polls. On the basis of this, PLASIEC refused to accept candidates from the Chris Hassan led “Exco”.
7. The “leprous PDP Exco” was disassatisfied and decided to approach the Court of Appeal Jos Division. Again, the PDP failed to convince the court. It was again ordered to go back and comply with the order to conduct proper party primaries to elect a valid Exco. The PDP was subsequently excluded from the Local Government elections which the APC won landslide (17 Chairmen and 325 Counsellors).
8. Despite this, the Chris Hassan led “PDP” proceeded to the Supreme Court to appeal the judgement of the Court of Appeal which clearly confirmed that they had NO STRUCTURE to nominate and sponsor candidates for any election.
9. Due to the lack of diligent prosecution, the Supreme Court dismissed the case of the PDP. The PDP protested the decision of the Supreme Court and filed for the relisting of the case. However, the Supreme Court remained adamant, sticking to its decision. Sensing trouble, the PDP withdrew the matter and submitted to the decision of the Court.
10. When the Member House of Representatives Hon. Ibrahim Maitala (APC) died, a rerun was held to fill the vacancy of Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency in 2021. Rather than respect itself and stay away or at least do the right thing by conducting a proper primaries, the Chris Hassan led “Structureless PDP” contested the elections. Hon. Musa Agah allegedly won and was sworn in.
11. Shortly after in 2022, Candidate of the PRP Muhammad Gwani who came second approached the tribunal and canvassed that the PDP candidate who allegedly won the election ought not to be on the ballot in the first instance because PDP in Plateau State according to 4 courts (2 high courts, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court) did not have VALID STRUCTURE to NOMINATE and SPONSOR the candidate. The tribunal agreed and subsequently nullified his “victory”.
12. Hon. Musa Agah went to the Appeal Tribunal and lost. He was shown the way out and the legitimate winner Muhammad Gwani was sworn in. Again, there was another rerun election for the Pankshin South in the Plateau House of Assembly which the PDP contested and lost to the APC but approached the tribunal. They lost on grounds that they had NO VALID STRUCTURE to sponsor their candidate.
13. Disturbed by its catalogue of loses, the Plateau PDP in its usual character hurriedly arranged another dubious primaries where only 5 of the 17 Local Government Areas participated.
14. As the 2023 general elections approached, the Plateau PDP “delegates” went to Benue for the PDP National Convention. All its delegates WERE STOPPED from participating so as not to infect the ticket of the National Chairman of the party which was eventually won by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
15. The “stubborn” Chris Hassan led PDP “Exco” again continued its journey into doom and perfidy by nominating and sponsoring candidates for various offices during the 2023 general elections. At the end of the day, it allegedly “won” the Governorship, 2 Senate, 4 House of Reps, 16 House of Assembly seats. They were sworn into offices.
16. Dissatisfied with the scenario, the APC which mostly came second in the positions “won” by the PDP and other political parties and their candidates approached the tribunals to contest among other things the fact that the PDP ought not to have been on the ballot for the elections because it had NO STRUCTURE to do so based on series of court judgements (7 judgements).
17. After going through the full course of legal proceedings with lawyers on both sides canvassing arguments, the tribunals and appeal tribunals have delivered their judgements. The summary is as follows:
    i. Plateau North PDP Senator (OUT) (Rerun ordered)
    ii. Plateau South PDP Senator (OUT) APC (IN)
    iii. Bass/Jos North PDP Rep (OUT) (Rerun ordered)
    iv. Jos South/Jos East PDP Rep (OUT) LP (IN)
    v. Riyom/Barkin Ladi PDP Rep (OUT) LP (IN)
    vi. QuanPan/Mikang/Shendam Rep (OUT) APC (IN)
    vii. 16 Plateau House Members (OUT)
18. The election of the PDP Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang was also nullified by the Court of Appeal because his Party had no valid STRUCTURE to nominate and sponsor him. The 525,299 votes he allegedly got were declared INVALID and WASTED.
19. Therefore, the second runner up Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshewe of the APC who polled 481,370 was declared as the VALIDLY ELECTED GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE. INEC was ordered to issue him the Certificate of Return and withdraw the one previously issued to Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP. Since then, the PDP has engaged in propaganda machinery in overdrive to make it look like Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, the incoming Governor never got a single vote but was imposed by the court of appeal.

Unfortunately, even the about 45,000 votes difference (which are the usual figures in Plateau Gubernatorial contests) have been contested as dubious and a product of rigging by the PDP.

19. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang and his party who initially boasted of dismissing APC’S Pettition with one line, has appealed to the Supreme Court and continue to sweat changing lawyers to prove its point to no avail. The apex court is due to hear the arguments of both parties and decide the matter in the coming days.
20. Finally, the public has been inundated with a barrage of jaundiced and sponsored propaganda that the case by the APC was supposed to be a pre-election matter which ought not to be entertained by the tribunals. So far, the tribunals have remained resolute to do justice and perform their duties without fear or favour, affection or ill-will despite the attacks, media propaganda, false accusations and character assassination of various judges.
    The results are astonishing. APC 21- PDP -0.
21. THE SUPREME COURT WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON THE GOVERNORSHIP MATTER in the coming days. Like the cases previously in ZAMFARA, BAYELSA, IMO, RIVERS, EDO, EKITI etc where elections were annulled, heavens will not fall when the victory of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshewe is affirmed by the highest court of the land. The courts cannot be intimidated nor made to choose emotions over facts. As it stands today, the PDP in the eyes of the law and by 27 pronouncements of courts and tribunals does NOT EXIST IN PLATEAU STATE.

NENTAWE IS FINALLY COMING, TO DELIVER GOOD GOVERNANCE, JUSTICE, PROSPERITY AND INCLUSIVITY TO THE GOOD PEOPLE OF PLATEAU STATE UNDER HIS #GENERATIONNEX#MANTRA

Comrade Mark, JP writes from Jos.