Plateau Governor Mutfwang Appoints Sacked PDP Lawmakers as Liaison Officers

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has appointed the sixteen sacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly lawmakers as liaison officers for their respective constituencies.

This decision comes after the lawmakers lost their seats in November 2023 following a ruling by the Court of Appeal that their party was not qualified to sponsor candidates in an election.

Despite the Supreme Court setting aside a similar judgment against Governor Mutfwang, the sacked lawmakers have vowed to reclaim their seats by seeking a judicial review of the decision against them.

They even attempted to storm the Plateau State House of Assembly in January, but their move was resisted by the lawmakers who benefited from the court ruling.

Last week, the appellate court dismissed the suit by the lawmakers and fined them a combined N128 million for allegedly instituting a frivolous suit to waste the court’s time.

However, the affected ex-lawmakers have now been appointed by Governor Mutfwang and were sworn in on Monday.

The PDP lawmakers have maintained that they are still pursuing their case, arguing that the court has not ruled on their case.

Timothy Dantong, who represented the Riyom constituency and is one of the affected PDP lawmakers, stated that the judgment of the Appeal Court is being misinterpreted.

He explained that there was an application for an extension of time, and their lawyer did not present the case on that day.

Dantong further clarified that their lawyer had written to the President of the Court of Appeal, requesting a five-man panel as the constitution requires for reviewed cases.

However, the judges were reportedly annoyed and decided to slam the fine on their lawyer for wasting their time.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the case will be resolved and whether the sacked lawmakers will be able to reclaim their seats.

The implications of this case could have far-reaching consequences for the political landscape in Plateau State, and all eyes are on Governor Mutfwang and the affected lawmakers as they navigate this complex legal situation.