Jubilation in Lafia as Tribunal sacks Sule as governor

There is wild jubilation on the streets of Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, following the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgment which nullified Governor Abdullahi Sule’s victory in the March 18 gubernatorial poll.

The three-man panel of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had earlier declared David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of the election.

Delivering the judgment virtually, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, declared Emmanuel Ombugadu of the PDP as the lawfully elected governor of Nasarawa State.

The development has sparked widespread jubilation among residents of the state, especially Ombugadu’s supporters.

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Former governors Al-Makura Tanko and Adamu Abdullahi Adamu, who were in the courtroom earlier, left hurriedly when it became evident that the APC was going to lose out in the judgment.

Attempts by journalists to interview them were thwarted by security men guarding them.

Some excited residents who spoke with our reporter said they are happy with the judgment of the court.

Despite the heavy rain, residents are in the streets, jubilating over the judgment.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lafia, declared Abdullahi Sule the winner of the governorship election in Nasarawa State in March.

According to Professor Ishaya Tanko, the INEC returning officer, the APC candidate secured a total of 347,209 votes, surpassing his closest rival, David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 283,016 votes.