Nasarawa Governorship: Group cautions judiciary against manipulation of legal process

The Ombugadu Campaign Organisation has called on the judiciary and other relevant authorities to ensure that the legal process concerning Nasarawa State governorship election is not manipulated or delayed for political purposes.
This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Mike Omeri, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Omeri said the group ws deeply concerned by the recent actions of Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, “who at 10 p.m on a Sunday night filed his appeal challenging the verdict of the Election Tribunal that sacked him from office”.
He stated that: “This untimely and unusual filing appears to be a deliberate attempt to frustrate our candidate, Hon. David Ombugadu, who was declared the winner of the March 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State by the Tribunal.
“Clearly, the hidden motive was to prevent him from filing a notice of cross-appeal in a timely manner prescribed by law. The timing of Governor Sule’s appeal filing raises questions about transparency, fair play, search for justice, and respect for due process.
“This further underscores the uncanny way through which they want to win at all cost, not minding the attendant chaos such might cause.
“We call on all relevant authorities, including the judiciary, to ensure that the legal process is not manipulated or delayed for political purposes.”
He urged that fairness and justice should prevail, adding that the people’s mandate must be upheld.
Omeri explained that Ombugadu has stated in several fora that his ambition is not worth the flow of blood of any common man, woman or child as well as the destruction of properties.
He emphasised that the late night weekend timing also suggested a lack of willingness to engage in a fair and open legal determination of the matter in issue.
According to him, witches, wizards and robbers will only operate mostly in the cover of darkness when people are asleep.
Omeri alleged that the election results of Gayam and Ciroma Wards in Lafia were changed between 2 a.m and 3 a.m on March 20, and announced the results in similar manner and now appealing at 10 p.m on Sunday night.
“Despite these underhand tactics, vigilant lawyers of Ombugadu’s could not be outmaneuvered as they outsmarted their counterparts.
“They promptly responded within minutes by filing a firm notice of cross appeal within time, challenging some of the rulings of the tribunal, which seem beneficial to the appellant and for which Sule was relying upon to sustain his appeal.
“Interestingly, even the Independent National Electoral Commission is also filling an appeal against the judgment in the case they failed to defend at the tribunal.
“We re-emphasised that our candidate, Hon. David Ombugadu, is fully committed to upholding the rule of law and due process,” Omeri said.
He maintained that the Ombugadu Campaign Organisation remained steadfast in its commitment to the democratic process and the pursuit of justice.
“We urge all stakeholders, including Gov. Sule, to respect the principles of fairness, transparency and the rule of law in this electoral matter,” the group said. (NAN)