PDP criticizes Governor Sule for appealing the Nasarawa tribunal’s decision at midnight

After the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed Abdullahi Sule from office at the stroke of midnight on Sunday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State criticized him for appealing the decision.

The tribunal dismissed All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Sule and awarded the governorship of Nasarawa State to the opposition People’s Democratic Party’s David Ombugadu.

Mike Omeri, Director, Media and Publicity for the Ombugadu Campaign Organization, stated in a statement made public to the media that the timing of the submission of the Sule’s appeal has raised eyebrows and is seen as a deliberate attempt to block the advancement of the PDP candidate.

Omeri has speculated that Ombugadu’s failure to file a notice of cross-appeal within the time limit set by law was due to the midnight filing.

He said this would further exacerbate an already tense electoral dispute and was an attempt to obstruct due process and justice in the legal proceedings.

The campaign team has called for an open and honest legal process, free of any deceptive strategies that could compromise the underlying democratic ideals.

In part of the statement, the Ombugadu Campaign Organization expresses its “deep concern” about recent events involving Governor AA Sule, who filed an appeal disputing the ruling of the Election Tribunal that removed him from office at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night.

After the tribunal proclaimed our candidate, Hon. David Ombugadu, the winner of the governorship election in Nasarawa State in March 2023, an unexpected filing was made. The true goal was to delay him from following the legal procedure for submitting a notice of cross-appeal.

Concerns concerning openness, fairness, the pursuit of justice, and adherence to due process have been raised in light of Governor Sule’s decision to file an appeal at this late date.

This further demonstrates their peculiar obsession with victory at any cost and utter disregard for any anarchy that may result.

Dr. Ombugadu has said on multiple occasions that the lives of ordinary people and their property are not worth risking for his own ambition.

“The Saturday night scheduling further hints at a lack of readiness to engage in a fair and open legal judgment of the case at hand. Our people and our democracy demand not only that justice be done, but that it be seen to be done as well.