The Nasarawa Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lafia, on Monday, nullified the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a split decision of two to one and declared Mr
David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
In its judgment that lasted more than four hours virtually, the Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, held that Ombugadu was the authentic winner of the governorship poll.
Another member of the panel, Justice Chiemelie Onaga, concurred with the judgement read by the panel chairman.
The Tribunal Chairman further held that Ombugadu provided the results of the various polling units and forms EC 8A and proved to the tribunal that the results were manipulated in favour of Governor Sule of the APC.
Justice Ajayi added that in recognition of the proof from the various polling units before the tribunal, Ombugadu scored the majority of valid votes at the election.
The Tribunal Chairman also ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Sule and issue a new one to Ombugadu.
But the third member of the panel, Justice Ibrahim Mashi, delivered a dissenting judgment and dismissed the petition by the PDP candidate for lacking in merit.
According to Justice Mashi, Ombugadu failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and upheld INEC’s declaration of Governor Sule as winner.
