The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday upheld the election of Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Nasarawa State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, David Ombugadu.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had reversed the nullification of Sule’s election by the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
The tribunal had, in a split decision on October 2, 2023, declared Ombugadu as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election, on the grounds that Sule benefited from over-voting in several polling units in the state.
However, the appellate court, on November 23, 2023, set aside the tribunal’s verdict and restored Sule’s victory, holding that the tribunal relied on legally inadmissible evidence and failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
The PDP and Ombugadu, dissatisfied with the appellate court’s ruling, approached the Supreme Court, seeking to reinstate the tribunal’s judgment and invalidate Sule’s election.
They argued that the Court of Appeal unjustly nullified the tribunal’s judgment and unjustly declared Sule as the winner of the governorship election.
They also alleged that the composition of the panel that heard their appeal at the Court of Appeal was biased and influenced by external forces.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed their appeal for lacking merit and upheld the concurrent findings of the lower courts that Sule was duly elected as the governor of Nasarawa State.
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The judgment of the Supreme Court has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians, especially from the people of Nasarawa State.
Some have expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the legal battle, saying that Sule deserved to remain governor and continue his developmental projects in the state.
Others have expressed disappointment and frustration, saying that the judiciary had failed to deliver justice and respect the will of the people who voted for Ombugadu.
Some have also called for electoral reforms and judicial independence, saying that the electoral process and the justice system were marred by irregularities and interference.