30/09/2026
Perhaps, the PDP 2023 crisis in Plateau State is one of the most controversial moments in the history of political parties and the Judiciary.
It's an interesting read, I promise.
It started in 2021, when Plateau State High Court ordered the PDP to conduct fresh, lawful congresses across the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to elect valid executive officers for its wards, LGAs, and state councils.
PDP did not fully obey that order.
Instead, the party went ahead to set up an ad-hoc caretaker committee to administer subsequent operations, including the nomination of candidates for the 2023 general elections.
Despite this internal friction, PDP candidates won major victories in the February and March 2023 general elections.
The party won the Governorship seat, 16 seats in the State House of Assembly, 2 senatorial seats, and 5 seats in the House of Representatives.
Senator Simon Lalong, who lost his senatorial bid, went to court on behalf of APC.
What was his argument?
He argued that under the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution, a candidate must be validly sponsored by a political party.
And because the PDP disobeyed the 2021 High Court order, its primary elections were void and it had no lawful "structure" to sponsor anyone.
Interestingly, the Tribunal and Court of Appeal, through Justice Elfreda Williams-Dawodu, listened to his argument, accepted it, and sacked all the PDP elected members, including Governor Mutfwang.
Because legislative petitions end at the Court of Appeal level, the 16 House of Assembly members, 5 House of Representatives members, and 2 Senators could not appeal to the Supreme Court.
Only Governor Mutfwang could appeal.
Governor Mutfwang later appealed the decision before the Supreme Court, where Justice Emmanuel Agim set aside the decisions of both the Tribunal and Court of Appeal.
According to the apex court, the issue of nomination and sponsorship is not a valid ground to nullify a general election under the Electoral Act.
The court also rebuked the Court of Appeal for meddling over the validity of a candidate's nomination and internal party congresses where the court knew it completely lacked jurisdiction.
In the end, the court reinstated Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
But here is the funniest thing.
All the 16 House of Assembly members, 2 Senators, and 5 House of Representatives members could not benefit from the judgment because their appeals ended at the Court of Appeal.
That was exactly how Simon Lalong and the rest of APC members found their way to both the State and National Legislative Houses today.
If they explain Nigeria to you and you understand, obviously, it means you need therapy.
I am Ekene Aninze, Esq.
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