APPEAL COURT VOIDS TRIBUNAL DECISION, AFFIRMS APC’s SULE AS NASARAWA GOVERNOR

In a significant reversal of fortune, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the decision of the Election Petitions Tribunal and reinstated Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Nasarawa State. This decision marks a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing political drama surrounding the state’s governorship.

The Election Petitions Tribunal had previously nullified Sule’s election victory and declared David Emmanuel Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful governor. However, the Court of Appeal found that the tribunal had committed two critical errors in reaching its decision:

1. Denial of Fair Hearing: The Court of Appeal determined that Governor Sule had not been granted a fair hearing by the tribunal. This denial of due process prevented Sule from presenting his case effectively and defending his position as the elected governor.

2. Reliance on Inadmissible Evidence: The Court of Appeal ruled that the tribunal had based its decision on evidence that was deemed inadmissible under the law. The inclusion of this inadmissible evidence compromised the integrity of the tribunal’s findings and raised concerns about the validity of its decision.

In light of these two fundamental flaws, the Court of Appeal concluded that the tribunal’s ruling could not be upheld. Consequently, the court reinstated Governor Abdullahi Sule as the legitimate governor of Nasarawa State.

This decision is likely to have a profound impact on the political landscape of Nasarawa State. Governor Sule’s reinstatement not only restores stability and continuity to the state’s governance but also reaffirms the principles of fair and transparent elections.

The Court of Appeal’s ruling serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of upholding due process and ensuring the integrity of judicial proceedings. By overturning the tribunal’s decision, the court has safeguarded the rights of Nasarawa State’s citizens and ensured that the outcome of the governorship election reflects the will of the people.