The speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Moses Thomas Sule, and his deputy, Hon. Gwottaon Fom, have resigned. Gabriel Dawang, the Pankshin North member, has been elected as the new speaker.
Hon. Timothy Dantong, representing Riyom constituency, is now the new deputy speaker of the Assembly.
DailyTrust reports that the development could be connected to the sacking of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and some PDP lawmakers in the state assembly.
REPORTERS AT LARGE recall that Nentawe Goshwe of the APC challenged Caleb Mutfwang’s victory at the tribunal, claiming that his party did not validly nominate and sponsor the governor.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the tribunal headed by Justice R. Irele-Ifijeh dismissed the petition of Goshwe for lacking merit.
The three-member Court of Appeal panel, led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, ruled on Sunday, November 19, that the governor was not legitimately sponsored by the PDP for the election, citing Section 177 of the Constitution.
The judge pointed out that the PDP failed to adhere to a standing High Court order mandating the party to organise a legitimate party congress before endorsing candidates for the governorship and other positions.
Mutfwang, who has directed his legal team to submit an appeal to the Supreme Court, expressed hope that the mandate bestowed upon him by the state’s people would be reinstated.
