Senator Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, said this while reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment which sacked the Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the March 18 governorship election.
A social activist and former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has said that the Nigerian judiciary is fast becoming what he described as “the coffin of democracy.”
Senator Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, said this while reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment which sacked the Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the March 18 governorship election.
SaharaReporters on Sunday reported that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja sacked Governor Muftwang and declared his election as null and void.
A three-member panel, in a unanimous decision on Sunday, held that Muftwang was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as provided by Section 285(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The panel held that the appeal brought by Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) succeeds as the issue of qualification was both a pre and post-election matter under Section 177(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 and Section 80 and 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The panel agreed with the appellant (Goshwe) that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos in suit no: PLD/J304/2020 between Bitrus B. Kaze & 11 ors vs the Peoples Democratic Party & 24 ors directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts and the Court of Appeal order in CA/J1/93/2021 was a breach of the law.
Reacting to the judgment, the former lawmaker described the appeal court verdict as “unfortunate, unacceptable, condemnable and a broad daylight heist of the will of the people.”
Senator wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, saying, “The Court of Appeal judgement against the electoral victory of the Plateau State Governor is unfortunate, unacceptable and condemnable.
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.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) November 19, 2023
“A broad daylight heist of the will of the people. The bench is becoming the coffin of democracy.”