When Governor Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang of Plateau State came on board following his success at the 2023 general elections, many were happy, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faithful across the state.

Among several promises he has been making to residents, the governor has also reassured them that his administration would take the state to greater heights, in spite of its huge debt profile.

Mutfwang, particularly expressed his readiness toward tackling the current security challenges in the state.

“These challenges we are confronted with are surmountable. Of particular concern is the issue of insecurity, which unfortunately has become a major distraction for us. But we are confident that with the new security chiefs and the Special Adviser on Security assuming responsibility, we will see a difference not too long from now,” Mutfwang said in one his addresses to the people.

While he has been receiving commendations on some fronts, he has been at the short end of the stick for some of his actions.

One of such is the governor’s dissolution of the elected local council leaders in June 2023, alleging that a committee by the State House of Assembly had come out with a report that the council chairmen embezzled money belonging to councils.

However, the suspended elected chairmen and councilors went to court to challenge their suspension, saying that as elected chairmen and councilors, they would remain in office until their tenure expires in October 2024.

Rather than await the verdict of the court, the state government appointed Transition Committee chairmen for the 17 local councils and directed them to take charge. The result is that confusion and supremacy battle is now the order at the councils while government has carried on and is addressing the press freely, as if nothing is amiss.

All the elected chairmen for the 17 local council in the state won elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not present any candidate at the time. This was before the current administration, headed by Governor Mutfwang came in on the platform of the PDP.

In the midst of the confusion, the Attorney–General and Minister of Justice of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) called on the State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney – General to allow the elected chairmen and councillors to resume duty and strictly supervised by the state police command. Indeed, they resumed.

But with the state government directing the transition committee chairmen to resume duty at state secretariats, there was bound to be clashes.

In anticipation, local council staff across the state connived with the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Plateau state Chapter and resolved that they would proceed on strike, arguing that they did not want APC and PDP supporters to class. Hence, they proceeded on an indefinite strike in the state.

Meanwhile, the Jos South suspended elected chairman, Gideon Dandereng has indicated his intention to resume tomorrow, September 11, 2023 at the council secretariat. He is an APC member.

As the controversies trailing both the elected and transition committee chairmen were still ongoing, government went the State Area court and secured judgment that the transition committee chairmen in the 17 local governments should resume duty unhindered.

It was, however, reported that the democratically elected chairman of Jos North council, Bala Usman, had resumed office without any reaction from the public or government.

However, many public affairs watchers have blamed the governor that as a professional and practicing lawyer, he should have waited for the court’s decision before allowing the transition committee chairman to resume office.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney – General, Philemon Daffi, has also approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, to urge the Court to direct the Plateau State Police Command to unseal the secretariats.

The battle for control of the 17 local council areas of the state between the sacked elected All Progressive Congress and Transition Committee chairmen, therefore, took another dimension as the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the Inspector General of Police from allowing the former into the council secretariats.

The Inspector General of Police recently opened up the sealed local council secretariats to the elected chairmen, thus fueling suspicions of violence.

Ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Plateau State Government urging it to prevent the police from giving vent to the order of the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Julius Alawari, the court ordered the suspended democratically elected chairmen and councilors to resume duties.

According to the order signed by Justice A.B. Mohammed, the police have no power to order the reinstatement of the elected chairmen and councilors when the matter is before the court.

The court statement reads in part: “An order of this honorable Court setting aside the order made by the defendant/respondent directing the 17 suspended chairmen of Plateau State who are claimants in the suit No:PLD/257/M/2023 (between Hon. Miskom Alexander Na’atuam (Chairman of Shendam Local Government Council) and 32 other vs. Plateau State and Attorney General of Plateau State pending before the Plateau State High Court be reinstated as local government chairmen in Plateau State, the order being judicial and prejudicial to suit No: PLD/257/M/2023, which is predicated on the same subject matter wherein the claimant are praying the Plateau State High Court to be reinstated as local government chairmen of Plateau State.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the police from using members of the Nigerian Police Force to forcibly reinstate the former local government council chairmen pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case,” he ordered.

The Court further ordered that an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from using members of the Nigerian Police to forcibly reinstate the former local council chairmen in Plateau State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in the case.

The court ordered that the enrolled order of interim injunction herein granted be served on the police, along with the motion on notice seeking interlocutory injunction as well as the originating summons.

The suit was therefore adjourned to the 14^th day of September 2023 for hearing of the plaintiff’s motion on notice seeking interlocutory injunction against the defendants.” (The Guardian)

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