Anger as Appeal Court sacks 3 governors in opposition parties within 4 days

Criticisms have trailed the sacking of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State by the Court of Appeal, triggering reactions that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was at work to run one-party system in Nigeria.

The sacking of Mutfwang was the third experience of the opposition in four days.

Last week, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raised the alarm that there was a plot to overturn the will of the people as expressed during the general elections.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Damagum alleged that there was a design by the APC 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.”

Mutfwang of the PDP had 525,299 votes while his APC challenger, Nentawe Goshwe, polled 481,370 votes in the governorship election in March.

Goshwe challenged the victory at the tribunal saying that Mutfwang did not comply with the Electoral Act as he was not validly nominated and sponsored by his party.

The panel dismissed the petition for lacking merit, but Goshwe headed to the appellate court. In its judgment on Sunday, the appeal court headed by Justice Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu sacked Mutfwang for not being validly sponsored by the PDP for election.

On Thursday, the appeal court sacked Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State of PDP, declaring that the governorship election in March was inconclusive.

The following day, the same court nullified the election of the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

These recent court rulings leading to the sacking of opposition governors have gotten Nigerians talking as they pointed to the APC as the mastermind.

Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:

Shehu Sani, a former senator, wrote: “The Court of Appeal Judgement against the electoral victory of the Plateau State Governor is unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable. A broad daylight heist of the will of the people.The bench is becoming the coffin of democracy.”

@Rabsy_b: “APC can take over all the 36 states if they want ”

@authentic_malam: “It’s natural to question court rulings. I wonder why all our court verdicts seem to favor the APC, the ruling party, against the opposition. This trend could potentially harm the country’s political process. ”

@MikelegofGod wrote, “APC at work oo, they wanna turn Nigeria into a one-party system.”

ÄPC has turned Nigeria into something different o,” @Okey_Ego_Crypto wrote.

“APC-owned court sacks Plateau governor,” @Mary_dozie reacted.

“They are gradually sinking this country,” @ErcharuP lamented.

In his own reaction, @JayPeeGeneral said, “No justice in the courtrooms system anymore! Our judges have replaced susbstantail justice with technicalities.

“Court sits on Sundays,” @CheezyCharles queried.

“Miscarriage of justice, there is no law left in Nigeria anymore,” @EnergizeBen said.

@timibreaker_35 said, “APC came to finish Nigeria.”

@TheoAbuAgada: “APC should actually take it easy. It’s becoming annoying at this point.”

@Its_ereko: “Dem go still remove Governors for different states put APC. Mad money dey fly for Nigerian judges account this period. But Nigerians no go wake up 💔 ”

@YundNedu∅1: “APC is just clearing everywhere with the help of our judiciary. Any small thing “go to court ” because they already have the judiciary on their payroll….”

@leroikris: “It is now glaring that Nigeria is an APC captured state.”

@Pauly257∅: “They have decided to snatch Plateau and allocate it to themselves. APC Department in charge of political allocation and distribution.”

@iam_samedohi: “America wonder. Nigeria is fast becoming a one-party country 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️”