Nasarawa Gubernatorial Election Dispute Heads to Supreme Court on January 16

The Nasarawa State gubernatorial election dispute between the incumbent Governor, Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and David Ombugadu of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to be heard by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

The Supreme Court issued a notice for the hearing, providing a focal point for the legal battle that has unfolded since the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (GEPT) in Lafia ousted Governor Sule on October 2, 2023, and declared Ombugadu as the winner.

However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned the Tribunal’s decision on November 23, stating that the Tribunal had erred in using witness statements on oath, not front-loaded as required by law, leading to what it deemed an ‘unjust conclusion’ of nullifying the governor’s election.

In response to the Court of Appeal’s judgment, the PDP and Ombugadu turned to the Supreme Court, seeking to challenge the verdict and prolonging the legal saga surrounding the Nasarawa gubernatorial election. As the nation awaits the Supreme Court’s deliberation, the outcome of this case holds significant implications for the political landscape in Nasarawa State.