Former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Tapgun, has voiced scepticism about the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chances of receiving a favourable judgment from the Supreme Court.
Speaking to Radio France International’s Hausa Service, Tapgun disclosed that he had cautioned his party before the 2023 general elections regarding prior court rulings against the PDP’s structure. Unfortunately, his warnings were disregarded.
Tapgun pointed out that the Supreme Court appeared to be an insurmountable hurdle for the PDP. Citing the recent cases where the Court of Appeal ousted all PDP lawmakers at the National and state assemblies due to perceived structural deficiencies, he emphasized that even Governor Caleb Mutfwang faced a similar fate.
Having urged Mutfwang to resign recently, Tapgun shed light on the internal strife within the PDP. He stated, “We’ve faced internal crises since 2021, attempting to resolve them unsuccessfully. The party’s national headquarters showed reluctance, seemingly favouring certain individuals over others.”
Reflecting on the 2021 local government election, Tapgun underscored the party’s failure to address internal issues, leading to the North Central Zonal Chairman conducting a primary that resulted in Mutfwang securing the governorship ticket. Despite Tapgun’s warnings about existing court judgments, Mutfwang remained confident in his legal team’s ability to defend the case.
“I categorically told him it wouldn’t work, and I refused to campaign for or against him,” Tapgun asserted, highlighting the underlying challenges that could jeopardize the PDP’s standing in the upcoming legal battles.
As the PDP faces a precarious situation, Tapgun’s foresight raises questions about the party’s ability to navigate the legal intricacies and emerge unscathed from the impending Supreme Court judgments.
