In a series of recent court rulings, opposition governors in Nigeria have been sacked, leading to widespread concerns about political interference in the judiciary. The latest case involves the removal of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who was ousted by the Court of Appeal on Sunday.
Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had won the March governorship election with 525,299 votes, while his APC challenger, Nentawe Goshwe, polled 481,370 votes. Goshwe challenged the victory at the tribunal, arguing that Mutfwang had not complied with the Electoral Act and was not validly nominated by his party. The tribunal dismissed the petition, but Goshwe appealed to the Court of Appeal.
The court, led by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, overturned the tribunal’s decision and ruled that Mutfwang was not validly sponsored by the PDP. This ruling comes on the heels of similar decisions in Zamfara and Kano states, where opposition governors were also sacked by the Court of Appeal.
These recent court rulings have raised concerns among Nigerians about the impartiality of the judiciary. Many believe that the APC, the ruling party, is using the courts to overturn the will of the people and consolidate its power.
The PDP’s acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagum, has accused the APC of attempting to “cripple democracy, overthrow the democratic rights of Nigerians, suppress the Rule of Law, and downgrade our nation to a fiefdom run by the whims of a cabal.”
Social media has been abuzz with reactions to the court rulings, with many expressing frustration and anger. Some have accused the judges of being biased against the opposition, while others have called for reforms to the judiciary.
The sacking of the opposition governors has also sparked fears of Nigeria becoming a one-party state. Some have warned that the APC’s dominance in the courts could lead to the stifling of dissent and the erosion of democratic principles.
The situation in Nigeria is fluid, and it remains to be seen how these recent developments will impact the country’s political landscape. However, it is clear that the sacking of the opposition governors has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the judiciary and the future of democracy in Nigeria.tunesharemore_vert
