The Abuja Court of Appeal has upheld the election of Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, after nullifying the initial tribunal verdict that declared David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier declared Governor Sule, a member of the All Progressives Congress, as the rightful winner. The tribunal’s decision to nullify this outcome was based on evidence from various polling units, where Ombugadu purportedly had the majority of valid votes.
In a significant turn of events, the Court of Appeal overturned the tribunal’s ruling, expunging critical evidence from the records. Justice Uchechukwu Onuemenam, delivering the lead judgment, highlighted the irregularities in the admission of evidence, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to legal procedures.
The court underscored the importance of properly filed statements on oath within the stipulated time, as outlined in relevant constitutional and electoral laws.
The appellate court also criticized the tribunal’s deduction of 1,868 votes from Governor Sule’s total based on alleged over-voting in four polling units. The court argued that the petitioners failed to present essential evidence, such as voter registers and BVAS machines, to substantiate their claim.
Furthermore, the tribunal’s dismissal of evidence and testimonies presented by the governor was deemed “perverse,” as it lacked proper reasoning. The Court of Appeal ultimately declared the tribunal’s actions as erroneous, reinforcing Governor Abdullahi Sule’s electoral triumph in Nasarawa State.