The Supreme Court has delivered a final verdict in the long-standing legal battle over the governorship position in Nasarawa State. The incumbent Governor, Sule Abdullahi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been re-affirmed as the duly elected Governor, dismissing the legal challenge brought forth by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, David Emmanuel Ombugadu.
In the March 18th Governorship poll, Governor Abdullahi secured victory with 347,209 votes, defeating Ombugadu, who garnered 283,016 votes. Dissatisfied with the results, Ombugadu and the PDP sought redress through the tribunal, alleging calculation errors that led to the declared victory of the APC candidate.
In a surprising turn of events, the tribunal initially upheld the petition, nullifying Governor Sule's victory and declaring Ombugadu as the rightful winner. However, the Appeal Court later overturned this decision, citing procedural irregularities in the tribunal's proceedings and reinstating Governor Sule.
The legal battle reached its conclusion at the Supreme Court, where Ombugadu challenged the Appeal Court's ruling. In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Appeal Court, affirming Governor Sule's victory. The court emphasized that the well-considered ruling of the Appeal Court remains intact, bringing an end to the protracted legal contest.
With the Supreme Court's final affirmation, Governor Sule Abdullahi can now focus on leading Nasarawa State, while Ombugadu and the PDP have accepted the Apex Court's decision as the ultimate resolution in this electoral dispute.
