Politics

Plateau Governor, Speaker coercing our lawmakers, APC alleges

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1 year ago

The All Progressives Congress has accused Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang and Speaker of the State Assembly, Honourable Gabriel Dewan, of allegedly accusing APC lawmakers of signing post-dated resignation letters as a pre-condition for their inauguration as members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Barrister Felix Morka, raised the allegation in a press statement on Thursday.

Recall that the Court of Appeal has ruled that 16 lawmakers on the platform of the APC be inaugurated as members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Morka disclosed that “Nine lawmakers who succumbed to intimidation and coercion and signed the demanded post-dated resignation letters and verifying affidavits were inaugurated by the Speaker as members of the House of Assembly on April 5, 2024. Seven members-elect who refused to submit to this illegality were denied inauguration by the Speaker. ”

The APC described the alleged action of “Governor Muftwang and Speaker as utterly outrageous, anti-democratic, illegal and a vile contempt of the binding judgement of the Court of Appeal that ordered the inauguration of all 16 APC members-elect as members of the House of Assembly. ”

The statement further reads in part: “We wonder why Governor Muftwang and Speaker Dewan are unwilling and seemingly terrified to comply with a valid judgement of the Court of Appeal but would rather resort to illegal and underhand tactics to intimidate, blackmail, and cajole members to sign post-dated resignation letters in violation of the laws of our land.

“The continued refusal of the Speaker to inaugurate the remaining seven APC members who have stoutly refused to submit to this illegality has become a clear and present threat to the peace and stability of Plateau state. Constituents of yet-to-be inaugurated members are becoming increasingly restive and may resort to peacefully protesting the unlawful refusal to inaugurate their own elected representatives. This is avoidable and must be avoided. The good people of Plateau state deserve to live in peace and security. Governor Muftwang bears a solemn duty to govern fairly, maintain peace and security, uphold the law, and do justice to all, irrespective of political differences.

“We call on the Speaker to unconditionally swear in the remaining seven APC lawmakers without further delay, in keeping with the judgement of the Court of Appeal.”

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