Just in: Tribunal affirms PDP’s Mutfwang as Plateau Gov, throws out APC’s petition

The Plateau State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Jos has confirmed the victory of Gov. Caleb Mutfwang in the March 18 gubernatorial poll.

The tribunal on Friday dismissed the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nentawe Yilwatda, challenging the nomination and sponsorship of Mutfwang by his party — the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The tribunal, while delivering judgment, noted that matters relating to the nomination and sponsorship of a candidate fall under pre-election matters.

“When the election of INEC relates to activities of a party, no court has jurisdiction to entertain a suit brought by another political party,” the tribunal ruled.

Persecondnews had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mutfwang the winner of the election after he secured 525,299 votes, defeating Yiltwatda, who garnered 481,370 votes

Earlier, the tribunal had also dismissed a petition lodged by the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Alfred Dabwan.

Dabwan had sought the nullification of the election results on the basis that his party’s logo was excluded from the ballot papers by INEC.