16 Sacked Plateau State Lawmakers Vow to Return to House Despite Court Rulings

A new political crisis is unfolding in Plateau State as 16 members of the state House of Assembly, who were sacked by the Court of Appeal, have declared their intention to return to the House, defying the court judgments that nullified their elections.

The Court of Appeal had nullified the elections of the 16 lawmakers because their party lacked the structure to sponsor candidates in the last general elections.

During a press briefing in Jos, the state capital, on Monday, the sacked lawmakers, led by Ishaku Maren, asserted that the Supreme Court’s judgment, which upheld the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, also validated their positions in the Assembly.

Despite the court rulings, the lawmakers announced their plan to resume their legislative duties on Tuesday, coinciding with the Assembly’s expected reconvening after a two-month recess.

Governor Mutfwang, who recently visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had earlier stated that political and legal avenues were being explored to address the perceived injustice suffered by the sacked PDP lawmakers due to the Court of Appeal’s decision.