The Presidency is responding to complaints about the Appeal Court’s decision to remove Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State. According to President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should take responsibility for the governor’s removal, not the president or the judiciary.
Onanuga highlights that the PDP conducted primaries in Plateau State using an illegal caretaker committee, despite a court order. This action, he argues, is the reason for Governor Mutfwang’s removal.
The Appeal Court overturned the judgement of the governorship election tribunal, which had initially upheld Governor Mutfwang’s election. Instead, the court declared Dr Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a fresh certificate of return.
Onanuga recalls a similar situation in Zamfara State in 2019, where the APC lost due to illegal primaries. He emphasizes that the PDP failed to learn from history and repeated the same mistake in Plateau State.
Onanuga asserts that the blame for the electoral setback should be placed on the PDP, not the APC, judiciary, INEC, or President Tinubu. He argues that non-compliance with electoral laws and the constitution led to the nullification of Governor Abba Yusuf’s election in Kano. Onanuga urges people to face reality and prioritize the rule of law in the country.
