Tribunal Sacks Nasarawa Gov, Declares PDP’s Umbugadu Winner

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has nullified the Election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress and declared David Umbugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party the validly elected governor of Nasarawa State.

The Tribunal in a majority judgment of 2 against 1 dissenting judgment held that David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party scored the highest number of valid votes and is declared winner of the Election.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, ruled that the petitioner proved his case and scored the highest lawful votes cast.

It held that the second respondent was not duly elected by the total number of valid votes cast.

The Tribunal holds that the election was not conducted inline with the electoral guidelines.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had after the conclusion of the March 18 2023 Governorship Election in Nasarawa State declared Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress winner of the Election.

The Governor and his party still reserves the right to appeal at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Two out of the three man panel agreed to the judgement while there is a dissenting ruling currently ongoing by a member of the panel.