Nasarawa State Government Cautions PDP Against Blackmailing Judiciary

The Nasarawa State Government has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to desist from blackmailing the judiciary over the Nasarawa governorship tussle.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Mr Peter Ahemba, and made available to Journalists in Lafia, the state capital.

The reaction followed the recent protest in Lafia against the Appeal Court governorship election judgment by a group purported to be a coalition of indigenous people of Nasarawa State.

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, November 2023 had set aside the judgment of the tribunal of October 2 and declared Governor Abdullahi Sule as the winner of the election.

The governorship elections petition tribunal on October 2nd annulled the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared David Ombugadu of PDP as the winner of the March 18 elections.

The governor’s aide said that they watched with great concern the shameful protest against the judgment of the Appeal Court by a group hired by the PDP.

Ahemba added that the decision of the Appeal Court was a true reflection of the popular mandate freely given to the governor by the electorates on March 18.

He explained that the government had confidence in the judiciary and believed that justice would be served at the Supreme Court.

He further explained that when the PDP was declared at the tribunal nobody protested, rather, the governor challenged the decision at the appeal court.

He advised PDP and its candidate to also challenge the outcome of the appeal court as they cannot take over power through the backdoor.

“The recent stage-managed protest against the judgment by a group of sponsored individuals is a calculated attempt to discredit the courageous, sound judgment of the Appeal Court.

“It is also meant to blackmail the nation’s judiciary for choosing to look at the appeal brought before it by the governor on its merit rather than primordial sentiments.

“The same party that was crying of external interference on the governorship dispute in the state is now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the international community to interfere,” he noted.

He therefore urged the security agencies in the state to take note of the dangerous rhetoric hovering very close to instigating hate amongst citizens by the opposition party.

Emmanuel Ukoh