The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, sacked Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress on Monday, declaring Peoples Democratic Party candidate David Ombugadu the winner of the state’s March 18, 2023 governorship election.
Ombugadu had hauled Sule to court, disputing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s proclamation of him as the winner of the election.
The chair of the three-member panel, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, invalidated the incumbent governor’s election and proclaimed Ombugadu of the PDP the legitimately elected governor of the state.
The judge in a two-hour and 53-minute judgement, ordered the revocation of Sule’s Certificate of Return, and the certificate be issued to Ombugadu as the legitimately elected Governor of Nasarawa State.
Justice Ajayi’s lead judgement was joined by Justice Chiemelie Onaga, but Ibrahim Mashi, the third judge, issued a dissenting judgement that upheld Sule’s election.
Francis Orogu, the PDP Chairman in Nasarawa State, said the decision represented the desire of the people of the state.
According to Orogu:
“We (PDP) want to thank the judges for doing the right thing. Today, we have been vindicated and whatever we have said from the beginning has come to pass. The truth is constant, it is only lies that can change.”
Governor Abdullahi Sule, though, informed reporters in Lafia that he had instructed his attorneys to fight the decision.
Sule stated,
“Yes, the tribunal ruled against us but I remain the governor. There are other people who do not have that opportunity. I will appeal the judgment and whatever happens at that moment, I still remain the governor until we go to the Supreme Court.
“For some of us who may feel bad, what has happened is just a temporary setback. As the governor of the state, I am calling on all our (APC) supporters to remain calm. There is no need for any protest because we still believe in the judiciary, that is why we are going to the next level of the judiciary.”
cc: Punch Ng
