Residents of Nasarawa State gathered in the capital city of Lafia on Saturday to peacefully protest the recent Court of Appeal judgment affirming Governor Abdullahi Sule as the winner of the 2023 governorship election.
The protest, spanning across all 13 local government areas, saw women and youths clad in black attire and brandishing leaves as they marched from the Welcome to Lafia City Gate to the Stadium Junction.
The backdrop of the protest lies in the governorship election petitions tribunal’s decision on October 2, 2023, which nullified Sule’s victory under the All Progressives Congress, declaring David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party as the rightful winner.
Unperturbed, Governor Sule appealed the tribunal’s ruling, seeking to overturn the decision and validate his electoral triumph as initially announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Protesters displayed placards carrying messages such as “The Law Should Protect Us On Merit not Technicalities,” “Nasarawa Mourns For The Soul Of Democracy,” and “President Tinubu, Please Save Our Democracy,” underscoring their plea for a fair and just electoral process.
Following the three-hour-long demonstration, Kefas Tigga, the Convener of the Coalition of Indigenous People of Nasarawa State, accused the Court of Appeal of imposing Governor Sule on the state’s populace.
Tigga appealed to the Supreme Court, urging a meticulous review of the case’s facts and figures to determine the genuine winner of the election and uphold the principles of democracy.
Tigga said, “The new normal established by the appeal court has created a dangerous precedent that undermines the fundamental principle of majority rule. The rights of indigenous people as expressed through their votes must be protected and upheld without any compromise.
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“For far too long, Nasarawa State has been subjected to external control, primarily driven by economic exploitation, neglecting the welfare and security of our citizens and their properties. Our people have been under persecution based on either their religious beliefs or their ethnic affiliations.
“We are here today to shed light on the fact that David Ombugadu of the PDP rightfully won the governorship election held on March 18, 2023. The wrongful declaration of Audu Sule as the winner by INEC was a clear deviation from the true democratic process.
“We are hereby calling upon the international community, including the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, European Union, and the United States, whose commitment to democratic values is renowned, to come to our aid in Nasarawa State. We must safeguard our democracy against external influences and ensure that the right of indigenous people to determine their destiny is respected.
“Our last hope lies with the Supreme Court, the final arbiter of justice, to stand firmly by our laws and allow the voice of the majority to prevail over mere technicalities. Let this be a moment for the Supreme Court to reiterate its commitment to the principles of democracy and protect the rights of indigenous people. We implore the Supreme Court to correct this injustice and enforce the true will of the people of Nasarawa State.”