On October 2, 2023, the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which in its session in Lafia, the state capital, ordered the cancellation of Governor Abdullahi's Certificate of Return.
Emmanuel Ombudagu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was declared the victor by the three-person panel, which was presided over by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, while delivering the verdict.
While one member abstained, the other two justices concurred that the PDP had won the election. Thus, the Court ruled that Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should have his Certificate of Return for the March 18 election revoked.
ACTIONS THAT LED TO THE COURT'S DECISION.
All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor Sule ran for re-election for a second term, although he was up against intense opposition.
In order to overcome Mr. Ombugadu, who obtained 283,016 votes, Mr. Sule bagged a total of 347,209 votes.
According to Justice Ezekiel, the choice was decided because Mr. Ombugadu, the PDP candidate who filed the petition, was able to establish his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Among the other political figures admittedly present at the court were former governors Abdullahi Adamu and Tanko Al-makura. They did, however, hurry out of the courtroom when it became clear that the APC would lose the case. And their security guards barring them from being interviewed by journalists.
RECEPTION
Congratulatory comments were immediately posted on social media once the verdict was announced. Bukola Saraki, the former president of the Senate, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter):
"I congratulate Hon. David Ombugadu of our great party, PDP, who has been proclaimed the winner of the Nasarawa State Governorship election by the Nasarawa State Election Petition Tribunal".
He further added that the decision of the tribunal serves as a stark reminder that democracy is and must always be an essential component of our country and is a resounding validation of the people's will.
The news was also joyfully received by the people of Lafia, the state capital. In commemoration of the Court's decision, they poured out in large numbers celebrating despite the heavy downpour.
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