Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Cecilia Onah, Lafia
Peoples Democratic Party in Nasarawa State has filed a petition at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Lafia, chhallenging the election victory of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Alhaji Abdullahi Sule.
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced Sule, who is the incumbent Governor as the winner of the election, after he polled 347,209 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, David Ombugadu who got 283,016 votes.
But the PDP alleged that the election was rigged in favour of the APC.
Speaking shortly after his legal team submitted the petition in Lafia on Friday, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, David Ombugadu, expressed optimism that he would reclaim his mandate through the court.
He said, “The process has started and I am optimistic that my stolen mandate would be returned back to me. I want to call on all my supporters to remain calm because I believe in the Nigerian judiciary. The case is very clear and the judicial system is the only hope for the common man.
“However, I want to urge all my supporters to continue praying for our victory because I am confident that with God on our side, we will emerge victorious.”
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On his part, the Director General of the PDP campaign council in the state, Labaran Maku, said the submission of the petition by the Ombugadu’s legal team marked the beginning of a legal battle that could potentially change the outcome of the just concluded governorship election.
“It is expected that the tribunal will commence sitting soon to hear the petition filed by the PDP candidate.”
“The outcome of this case would determine the future of Nigeria Democracy and the political landscape of Nasarawa state. It would also be a test of the Nigerian judiciary’s ability to deliver justice and maintain the integrity of the electoral process,” Maku added.
