Nasarawa Gov Appeals Tribunal Judgment Annulling His Election

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Monday at the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal filed an appeal against the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgment that annulled his victory in the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Governor Sule as winner of the election.

But not satisfied with the declaration, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), David Ombugadu, approached the Nasarawa State Election Petition Tribunal to seek redress over alleged malpractices. 

Consequently, the tribunal had, in a split judgment, declared the PDP candidate, Ombugadu, as the lawfully elected governor of the state.

However, Governor Sule rejected the split decision of the tribunal, insisting that the petition lacked merit and ought to have been dismissed.

The governor listed 27 grounds before the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal to fault the decision of the Justice Ezekiel Ajayi-led tribunal delivered virtually on October 2, 2023. 

In a notice of appeal dated October 15, 2023, Sule filed the appeal before the Makurdi Division of the Appeal Court. 

Sule, therefore, urged the appellate court to set aside the decision of the lower court and affirm his victory as declared by INEC. 

Joined in the appeal were Ombugadu, PDP, INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.