Crisis is brewing between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang over the refusal of House of Assembly Speaker Gabriel Dewan to inaugurate 16 members elected on the platform.

The National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday drew a battleline with the governor, accusing him of backing the Speaker in his bid to delay the swearing in of the lawmakers.

It threatened a legal action against the governor and Speaker for disobeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal that the 16 members were duly elected by their constituents.

Speaker Dewan has hinged his refusal to inaugurate the 16 lawmakers on the judgement of the Supreme court, which faulted the judgement of the Court of Appeal that sacked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers based on the porous structure of PDP.

The apex court, in its ruling on last year’s governorship election, declared that the issue of party structure was an internal affairs of PDP that should not have been entertained by the Court of Appeal.

However, while 16 PDP lawmakers have approached the Court of Appeal for a review of its judgement, the court dismissed their request.

Owing to the Speaker’s refusal to allow the 16 members to take their seats, Plateau Assembly is now made up of eight members, leaving other constituencies with no representation.

APC-NWC said the 16 lawmakers were running out of patience, warning that illegality can no more be condoned.

It further said that the party will not allow the legislative rascality of the Speaker to go unchallenged, adding that “enough is enough”.

Addressing reporters in Abuja after the weekly meeting of the highest administrative organ, the National Vice Chairman (South West) Isaacs Kekemeke, said APC will ensure the enforcement of the decision of the Court of Appeal.

He said: “The Court of Appeal has affirmed its decision to sanction the illegality of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, PDP and the Governor for attempting to review that decision.

“It is sad that the Governor of Plateau, who is enjoying his office by the constitution of this country in an election, will want to deny 16 members of the fruit of their electoral work and to deny our party the success that they won for the people. “This is a disgrace to democracy and its unacceptable behaviour.

“The National Working Committee expresses its outrage and displeasure over this continued illegality and this unacceptable arbitrage by the Governor of Plateau State, the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and by the PDP in Plateau state.”

He urged the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspection General of Police and other law enforcement agencies to enforce the final decision of the Court of Appeal, being the final adjudicating court on the House of Assembly poll. (The Nation)

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