Tribunal sacks Nasarawa state gov, Abdullahi Sule, declares Ombugada winner

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Several months after the gubernatorial election in Nasarawa amongst other states in the country, the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Nasarawa State has nullified the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress, APC and declared PDP’s David Ombugadu as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi who delivered the judgment virtually, declared the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ombugadu as the lawfully elected governor of the State.

Recall that the PDP candidate had approached the Tribunal challenging the victory of governor Sule at the 2023 gubernatorial polls.

Ombugada argued that the declaration of Sule as winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission was a denial of his mandate having won the election legitimately.

He complained to the tribunal that his actual votes were unjustifiably reduced while that of Abdullahi Sule of the APC was increased to aid Sule to victory, particularly in the forms EC8Bs of Gayam and Chiroma Wards of Lafia Local Government Area.

Delivering judgement, the tribunal held that the petitioners duly proved their petition and therefore, deducted the incorrect votes added to Sule and accordingly added back the votes which were reduced from the overall votes of David Ombugadu as evident on the certified copies of the polling units results (forms EC8A) tendered by the Petitioners.

The tribunal also explained that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents did not produce any contrary set of forms EC8As throughout the trial.

In the final analysis, the tribunal held that the petition had merit and accordingly granted the reliefs sought by the Petitioners and ordered that the certificate of return issued to Alhaji Sule of the APC be withdrawn and issued to Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu as the validly elected governor of Nasarawa State.

The courts decision has raised concerns from several parts of the country as many least expected Governor Sule to be sacked from office given the level of development perceived to have been recorded under the governor within his first tenure as governor of the state and which spanned four years.

In a related development, the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja yesterday, rejected the petition brought forward by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the State, Beatrice Itubo.

Itubo in her petition before the court, challenged the victory of her counterpart, Simnalayi Fubara of the People’s Democratic Party in the March 18 governorship election.

According to reports, Simnalayi Fubara was declared winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission having polled about 302,614 votes and defeating her rival, Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 95,274 votes.

The tribunal’s decision comes after a petition was filed by the LP and APC candidates, contesting Fubara’s victory.

Delivering judgement, the tribunal, led by Justice Cletus Emifonye who ruled on Monday, dismissed the Labour Party’s petition on grounds of lack of merit and failure to substantiate the allegations.

This was as the parties adopted the final written addresses and arguments.