In a dramatic turn of events, the case brought forward by the 16 Plateau lawmakers who were sacked by the Court of Appeal has hit a major roadblock. The plea for a review of the Appeal Court’s judgment, which led to their dismissal as members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, has been summarily dismissed by the court for lacking in merit.
The court’s decision came as a blow to the sacked lawmakers, as their application was not only dismissed but also deemed a waste of judicial time. Adding salt to the wound, the court imposed a hefty fine of 8 million Naira on each of the 16 former members involved in the suit.
This development marks a significant setback for the lawmakers who had hoped for a different outcome. Following the Appeal Court’s ruling on November 24th, 2023, which nullified the election of all 16 members affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the first runners-up from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) were declared winners and slated to receive Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
With the dismissal of their plea for a review, the path is now clear for the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Gabriel Dewan, to swear in the 16 newly elected members. This decision brings closure to the uncertainty that had loomed over the judgment of the Appeal Court, particularly in light of the Speaker’s previous stance.
Previously, the Speaker had declared that he would only recognize seven members of the house following the Supreme Court’s declaration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang as the Governor of Plateau State. He had insisted that he would wait for the court to interpret the Appeal Court’s judgment before recognizing the newly elected members.
Now, with the court’s dismissal of the lawmakers’ plea, the speaker’s assertions have been put to rest, bringing clarity to the political landscape of Plateau State.
