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Tag: Nasarawa

  • Nasarawa Tribunal verdict, a miscarriage of justice – Sule’s aide

    Nasarawa Tribunal verdict, a miscarriage of justice – Sule’s aide

    The Nasarawa state governorship election petition tribunal verdict which voided the re-election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the APC and declared David Umbugadu of the PDP winner of the election has been described as a miscarriage of justice that would not stand the test of time at the appeal court. 

    Senior special assistance to the governor on public affairs, Comrade Peter Ahemba, stated this weekend when he appeared on AIT’s regular show, Democracy Today, monitored in Lafia by our correspondent. 

    The governor’s aid explained that the split judgment which was 2 against 1 in favour of the opposition PDP would not stand the test of time as the merit of the case was abandoned by the judges and instead adopted technicalities, adding that the appeal court will restore the mandate of the Governor. 

    The governor’s spokesman explained further that Governor Abdullahi Sule genuinely won the 2023 governorship election and his votes cut across the 13 local governments and 18 development areas of the state. 

    He described as unfortunate the introduction of religious and ethnic politics in the state politics by the opposition PDP, noting that the accusation by a PDP chieftain Senator Philip Gyunka that Governor Abdullahi Sule lost the election because of none performance was baseless and irresponsible opposition. 

    He said: “Such unwarranted remark on Governor Sule’s government is not only reckless but also exposed his ignorance of what is happening in the State, particularly in Akwanga Zone where reference was made during the shameful outing”

    “For the avoidance of doubt, some of the projects executed by the Sule administration in the Senatorial zone are listed as follows:

    “Facilitated the establishment of Mobile Police Training College at Endehu, Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area, and the Gudi Industrial Hub. Sitting of the newly established Faculty of Engineering, Nasarawa State University, Keffi at Gudi, Akwanga LGA, construction of Gudi-Moroa road. Construction of Gudi-Ungwan Dorowa road.

    Others include Alushi Wakama Road constructed by the present administration. Rinze-Ngare-Ancho-Baba Andaha road. Andaha-Numa-Bayan Dutse roads, all in Akwanga LGA.

    Construction of Kagbu-Atsoko-Kagbu Wana road in Nasarawa-Eggon and Wamba Township roads.

    Other projects executed by the Engr. Sule’s administration in the Akwanga Zone includes; the Akwanga and Nasarawa-Eggon Neighborhood Markets, Wamba Modern Markets, and the Completion of the Akwanga Model Hospital.

    “Furthermore, we wish to remind Senator Gyunka and indeed, his co-travelers who, for retrogressive opposition politics have refused to see any project executed in the state and Akwanga Zone in particular by the present administration that the VIP Lodge at Akwanga was also remodelled by the Sule administration.

    “Also constructed is the Akwanga Guest House the Event Centre at Akwanga as well as the installation of a 2km Solar Power Street Light, all in Akwanga, among other projects within the Zone were brought about by the Sule’s administration.

    “We challenge the PDP chieftain and other critics to, in good conscience, deny that the aforelisted projects do not exist in Akwanga Zone.

    “Senator Gyunka must be reminded that having failed to attract a single project to his constituency as a State House of Assembly member for two terms and as Senator for Four years respectively lacks the moral standing to accuse any government of nonperformance.”

  • You can’t be Nasarawa governor by falsehood, APC fires PDP, Umbugadu

    You can’t be Nasarawa governor by falsehood, APC fires PDP, Umbugadu

    The Nasarawa State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has said that the PDP and its governorship candidate, David Umbugadu can’t be governor of the state by spreading falsehood and misleading members of the public.

    The state party chairman, Aliyu Bello, addressed reporters in Lafia on Thursday, October 19, expressing that following the governorship tribunal’s decision favouring the PDP and its candidate, the party has been unsatisfied with Governor Sule and his administration.

    Bello said: “Since the split judgment of the governorship election tribunal, the PDP seems to be agitated and ruffled with anything that comes from Governor Sule and his administration.

    “They have decided and determined to misinterpret every statement that emanates from anybody that has something to do with the government in power. It is therefore imperative to put things in their correct perspective in order to save the public from being misled to believing their lies and falsehood.”

    The director of media and publicity Umbugadu campaign organization, Mike Omeri, had criticised Governor Sule’s late-night appeal against the recent tribunal verdict.

    Omeri had said: “The timing of Governor Sule’s appeal filing raises questions about transparency, fair play, search for justice, and respect for due process.”

    The APC chairman describes Omeri’s statement as laughable, shameful, and the most ridiculous statement coming from only those suffering from apprehension of pending defeat.

    He said: “Such a statement has some underpinning motives of hypocrisy and obvious plans initially hatched to manipulate the process of appeal which has now been decimated

    “Since you claim your lawyers were eagle-eyed and were able to cross-appeal within minutes, why then cry foul? Allow the courts to decide on the issues brought before it in fairness and justice for all.”

    Read Also: You’re too desperate to be Nasarawa gov, Sule warns Umbugadu

    He explained that the state is a peaceful state, inhabited by peaceful and peace-loving people, adding that, “the citizens are committed to pursuing peace irrespective of their lineages, language, and religion they have chosen to practice as no one can claim superiority over another.

    “It is against this background that we have decided to respond to their varied misgivings and misrepresentation of facts in relation to the appeal filed by Governor Sule in the court of appeal, falsehood, and propaganda by proxies, mindless threats and divisiveness as being incited by the supporters of the opposition PDPA.”

    The APC chairman said the PDP has introduced dangerous political dialectics of threats and falsehood into the body polity, and we are warning that such mindless conspiracies of plausible deniability if not checked have lethal tendencies of overheating the political atmosphere.

  • Nasarawa guber: Gov Sule appeals Tribunal’s judgment nullifying his election

    Nasarawa guber: Gov Sule appeals Tribunal’s judgment nullifying his election

    Nasarawa governor, Abdullahi Sule, and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have filed an appeal to contest the ruling of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declared the PDP candidate, David Umbugadu, as the victor of the March 18th gubernatorial election.

    The tribunal led by its chairman, Ezekiel Ajayi in a split judgement of two against one had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to withdraw the certificate of return from Abdullahi Sule and issue it to David Umbugadu of the PDP.

    The chairman in its majority judgement delivered October 2, said the evidence before its panel indicated that the election was won by the PDP candidate David Umbugadu and not Engr Abdullahi Sule of the APC.

    The PDP candidate, David Umbugadu who equally filed an appeal challenging the minority judgement that upheld the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule, is asking the appeal court to set aside the minority judgement and uphold the majority judgement which returned him as the winner of the election.

    The certified true copies of their notices of appeal, a copy which was obtained by our Correspondent yesterday in Lafia are dated 15th October 2023 and signed by their various lawyers.

    Governor Sule in his notice of appeal listed twenty-seven (27) grounds to fault the decision of the Justice Ezekiel Ajayi-led Tribunal, asking the appellate court to dismiss the majority judgement sacking him and uphold the majority judgement of the tribunal.

    The Governor says he has faith, trust, and confidence in the judiciary to set aside the Nasarawa petition tribunal judgment nullifying his election.

    Read Also: CSO faults Nasarawa Tribunal judgment on Gov Sule

    Governor Sule urged the Appellate Court to set aside the decision of the lower court and affirm his election victory as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Joined in the appeal are David Emmanuel Ombugadu, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), INEC, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respondents respectively.

    The electoral umpire, INEC had announced Governor Abdullahi Sule as the winner of the election, but unsatisfied with the declaration, Ombugadu of the PDP approached the Election Petition Tribunal to seek redress over alleged malpractices.

    The Tribunal in a split Judgement declared the PDP candidate as the lawfully elected Governor of the State. This, Governor Sule rejected, insisting that the petition lacks merit and ought to have been dismissed.

  • Ganduje vows to protect APC’s mandate in Nasarawa

    Ganduje vows to protect APC’s mandate in Nasarawa

    National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has vowed to protect the mandate of the party in Nasarawa state, stressing that the party won the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.

    Ganduje made this known weekend while speaking in Lafia at the grand reception organized in honour of the Nasarawa State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Aliyu Bello. 

    According to the APC National Chairman, who was represented at the event by Alhaji Muazu Rijau, National Vice Chairman (North Central), the party would protect its mandate in Nasarawa State. 

    “We have won the election, and we shall protect our mandate. There is no doubt about it. Nasarawa State belongs to APC, and APC belongs to Nasarawa State. We are in charge, and we will continue to be in charge by the grace of God,” Ganduje stated.

    Governor Abdullahi Sule at the occasion, said the APC state chairman stands out as a politician that is capable of providing the necessary leadership for the APC to facilitate for his administration to translate its vision into reality for the state. 

    According to the Governor, Nasarawa State only began to witness genuine development in 2011 after the coming of the defunct Congress Progressives Change (CPC), which later metamorphosed into the APC.

    “The real development that started in Nasarawa State did not start until 2011. It was at the time we started to see resemblance to some kind of development.  Development in education, development in health, development in infrastructure, development in roads. Development in the way forward.” 

    “In APC we have vision, in APC we have the experience, in APC we have the commitment, in APC we have the love for our state and its people. More importantly, believe it or not, we have the fear of the Almighty Allah in us”

    “And that is the reason why since we started, we have seen the development of Nasarawa not only in education, infrastructure, and the rest but we are now having a state in the northern part of the country that has oil in Obi Local Government Area”

     “We worked hard to ensure that that oil is drilled. We worked to ensure that more exploration was carried out to discover more oil reserves. We now believe that in the entire northern part of the country, there is no reserve as big as the one in Keana, Obi and Assakio”

    Read Also: Oyo APC meets Ganduje in Abuja, pledges support for Tinubu’s administration

    In a goodwill message, immediate past governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, said considering Aliyu Bello’s trajectory and pedigree, Nasarawa State couldn’t have a better APC Chairman at this time.

    “We are very lucky to have at this stage of the development of the party, someone like Aliyu Bello.  This is someone who has cut his teeth in political activities and administration for so many decades. Starting during student life and when he got into the party mainstream, he has always participated as an insider, a team player, a very faithful friend to all and sundry”

    To add all, his philanthropic activities will be a plus for his position as the Chairman because it will galvanize support across the board for our party. Aliyu Bello has been an engine room of many political activities with the coming of the APC, Aliyu Bello now became the engine room of APC in Nasarawa State,” the former governor said.

  • CSO faults Nasarawa Tribunal judgment on Gov Sule

    CSO faults Nasarawa Tribunal judgment on Gov Sule

    A coalition of civil society groups that monitored the March 2023 elections in Nasarawa state has objected to the recent verdict by the election petition tribunal, where a two-to-one split decision ruled in favour of unseating the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Sule.

    In a conversation with The Nation in Abuja, Francisca Ogbu, the leader of the coalition comprising ten observer groups, along with Alhaji Abdul Suleiman, its director of information, voiced their reservations about the fairness and impartiality of the tribunal’s decision.

    They emphasised their belief in the wisdom reflected in the minority ruling of the election petition tribunal, which favoured Governor Sule, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    While underscoring that the coalition is not pre-judging the ongoing matter before the Court of Appeal, they firmly expressed the conviction that accepting the judgment delivered by the lead Justices in their majority would amount to endorsing a significant injustice against Governor Sule and the majority of voters who supported him.”

    On behalf of members of the observer groups that include Vote Count Campaign Organization, Polling Units Ambassadors, Civil Society for Good Governance and Budget Monitoring, Women for Change Initiatives, and Initiative for Good Governance and Accountability, they applauded Governor Sule’s decision to go to a higher court and questioned the rationale behind the two tribunal judges’ vote in favour of Governor Sule’s removal.

    Read Also: Nasarawa Tribunal verdict: Don’t use religion to incite tension, Jibrin warns

    According to the coalition, it may be particularly faulty for them to base their conclusions on a decision to admit witness submissions even after the statutory 21-day period for such submissions had elapsed.

    The coalition, however, commended Governor Sule’s choice to appeal to a higher court.

    They also raised concerns about the reasoning behind the two tribunal judges’ decision to vote in favour of Governor Sule’s removal.

    The coalition pointed out potential flaws in the basis of their conclusions, particularly the admission of witness submissions after the statutory 21-day period had already passed.

    “It was incorrect for the majority judges to allow the testimony of subpoenaed witnesses without requiring them to make a statement on oath; the learned judges also failed to adhere to established legal principles, such as the decision in the Peter Obi case, which clearly states that subpoenaed witnesses should not be considered as court witnesses but rather as witnesses of the petitioners.

    “These witnesses may be perceived as attempting to surreptitiously amend the petitioners’ case, in a way that could be likened to changing the rules of a game midway through.”

    The Civil Society groups pointed out there are issues over the inadmissibility of documents tendered by individuals who were not the original creators of those documents, arguing that, according to the law, only the creators of such documents should be allowed to present them as evidence.

    They stated: “The majority judgment failed to adequately consider this legal requirement and another issue with the majority judgment is with regards to the polling agents and supervisors presented as witnesses by the petitioners; these witnesses did not fulfil the requirements of the Electoral Act, which mandates that polling agents and supervisors must be agents of political parties.

    “The majority judgment, the group asserted, did not give proper consideration to this aspect of the law and erroneously expunged pertinent evidence.”

  • Four students kidnapped in Nasarawa

    Four students kidnapped in Nasarawa

    Four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), have been kidnapped by gunmen.

    The incident, according to a source, happened about 10.30pm at Angwan Kare area on Monday.

    This is coming barely 24 hours after former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of NSUK, Prof. Haruna Ayuba Kuje, was kidnapped.

    The victims are Rahila Hanya (SLT), Josephine Gershon (Computer Science), Rosemary Samuel (Business Administration) and Goodness Samuel, (Geography).

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnapped four varsity students in Nasarawa

    A member of the Student’s Parliament, Senator Solomon Timmy, said all the victims are in their first years.

    The SUG Secretary-General, Riwonga Lucky Ali, also confirmed the unfortunate incident in a statement yesterday. He however urged students to remain calm as efforts were on to secure their release. He also called on them to be alert and report any suspicious movement for swift response.

    Meanwhile, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Comrade Samuel Alu, said Prof. Kuje was released yesterday and has since re-united with his family.

  • Nasarawa: ‘stop heating up the polity’

    Nasarawa: ‘stop heating up the polity’

    Concerned People’s Democratic Party (PDP)  Muslim Leaders in Nasarawa State have called on politicians to refrain from seeking to use religious leaders to influence legal proceedings.

    The group said there was an attempt to infuse religious sentiment into the outcome of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s verdict which sacked the governor of the state, Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress.

    The tribunal, on October 2, nullified the election of Governor Sule of the APC and declared David Ombugadu of the PDP as the winner of the March 18, governorship election in the state.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, spokesman for the group, Ja’afaru Ibrahim stated that attempts to involve religion and religious leaders in the Nasarawa judicial process come with the risks of compromising the integrity of the nation’s legal system, undermining the rule of law, and upholding impunity.

    Read Also: FG looking into gas exploration, solid minerals

    “Instead, let us all respect the principles of fairness and impartiality that is the cornerstone of our legal system,” he said.

    He reiterated the commitment of the leader to pray for peace, unity, and justice in the state, and nation.

    He said: “We encourage all politicians and especially our friends in the APC to resolve any differences amicably or by legal means and to respect the decisions of our judicial institutions rather than whipping up religious sentiments.”

    He lauded President Bola Tinubu for his plans, policies, and promises of reforms, praying for the country and wishing the leaders well in the discharge of their services to the nation.

  • Activists protest Nasarawa governor’s removal by tribunal

    Activists protest Nasarawa governor’s removal by tribunal

    Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI) has faulted the Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for sacking Governor Abdullahi Sule.

    It said the ruling focused primarily on technicalities rather than legal and ethical concerns.

    The Nation reported the tribunal, led by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, voided the victory of Sule and declared David Ombugadu, of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the March 18 poll.

     Speaking at a briefing at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Lagos, National Coordinator, Sulaimon Suberu, claimed documents submitted by Sule’s counsel were disregarded, and that evidence from petitioners’ witnesses without written depositions on oath was allowed.

     Sulaimon appealed to the appellate court to uphold the victory of Sule by conducting reviewing the tribunal’s decision.

    Read Also: Fed Govt targets 5 million jobs in 5 years for youths

     He urged residents to remain calm and obey the law until the court’s decision.

     “While we believe in the judiciary, we are of the opinion that unlike Kaduna, Sokoto, Taraba and Ogun, with almost same petitions, the judgment in Nasarawa did not dwell on merit and competence of the petitions before it.

     “Our evaluation showed it is predicated on technicalities, thereby jettisoning the  law and its intrinsic values.

    “First and foremost, the absence of prior declaratory relief, setting aside Sule’s election and return is concern to us, as well as how the judgment had allowed evidence without written depositions on oath by subpoenaed witnesses called by the petitioners to stay.”

     “Another fundamental area of concern is the brutal manner in which objections to admissibility and tendering of documents as raised by respondents were ignored among other pertinent issues of law.

    “Having said that, we salute the courage, resilience, and bias for truth, objectivity, and fairness as exhibited by Justice Ibrahim Mashi, in his dissenting judgement; obviously, history will never forget him.

    “It is on that prism that we call on the appellate court to critically and objectively look into the logic and substance of the dissenting judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mashi, as a way of upholding the unassailable principles of fairness and objectivity inherent in the judiciary, as a very revered arm of government.

     “In the meantime, we passionately appeal to the good people of Nasarawa State to remain calm and be law-abiding, as Governor Abdullahi Sule remains the Executive Governor of the State in the face of the law.

     “We want to assure them that the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man will address every wrong in the Tribunal’s ruling of Monday 2nd October 2023 at the Appeal Court without fear or favour and with the merit of the case.

     “We, hereby passionately implore the Lordships at the appeal court to critically look at those fundamentals and treat them accordingly on their merits.”

  • Youths to PDP candidate: you can’t Nasarawa governor

    Youths to PDP candidate: you can’t Nasarawa governor

    A group, Nasarawa Youths’ Assembly, yesterday said the over 1,000 women prayer rally convened by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state could not make the party govern the state.

    Ahead of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement, some PDP women were reported to have held a prayer rally for the victory of the PDP’s governorship candidate, David Ombugadu.

    But the youth described the rally as a mere exercise that would not save the party from losing during the judgment of the tribunal.

    The youth stated this in a statement by their Chairman, Mr John Abimiku, adding that the opposition party and its governorship candidate have become more apprehensive due to the turn of events at the proceedings of the Tribunal.

    Read ALso: BREAKING: Tribunal affirms Gov Otu’s election in Cross River, dismisses PDP’s petition

    Abimiku said: “The opposition’s witnesses during the sitting of the tribunal have rather exposed the widespread manipulation of election’s result in many polling units across the state by the PDP.”The petitioners have failed to prove their allegations of reduction of votes, cancellation of votes of the election of Ashige Electoral Ward and exclusion of votes in Aruaza Electoral Ward in Lafia and Doma Local Government Areas, where the petitioners alleged over voting in four polling units.”The youths said PDP has resorted to the humiliation of unsuspecting Nasarawa mothers since the declaration of Governor Abdullahi Sule as winner of the March 18 governorship election.He said: “The Nasarawa State Youths Assembly has reviewed the political activities in the state since the declaration of governorship election in which Governor Abduilahi Sule won and noticed with concern that the opposition PDP had directed the unsuspecting women to come out nude and protested in the streets of Nasarawa State.

     ”The main opposition party has equally launched  provocative verbal and media attacks on tribunal judges who it accused of being open to inducement to sway the outcome in favour of Governor Sule.

    “It has also mounted the same attacks on the personality of Governor Sule who has kept his cool despite all affront by the opposition party leaders.

    “We want to use this medium to warn the party and its leadership to desist from plugging the state into crisis because of its parochial interests.”

    Abimiku added that the inability of the petitioners to prove their case and testimonies, alluded to the fact that the PDP had shortchanged Sule and the APC during the March 18 governorship election, hence the ruling APC might have nailed the petitioners at the tribunal.

  • Group urges Gov. Sule to probe alleged sales of Nasarawa Lagos Liaison Office

    Group urges Gov. Sule to probe alleged sales of Nasarawa Lagos Liaison Office

    Nasarawa indigenes residing in Lagos State under the auspices of Nasarawa State Development Association have called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the purported sales of the Nasarawa State Liaison Office in Lagos.

    According to the group, the building which is situated at Plot 1234 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos was allegedly sold by a former Governor. 

    In an open letter to Governor Sule, Chairman, Nasarawa State Development Association, Alhaji Musa Ikushigya, expressed shock at the barbaric and ruthless, manner in which members of the group were dehumanised by police operatives at the premises in the guise of evicting illegal occupants.

    “Your Excellency Sir, you may wish to know that Nasarawa State Development Association holds you in high esteem with a deep sense of respect and trust, considering your ethical principles of integrity, character, and honesty.

    “However, the recent development in the premises of the liaison office involving our members gives us shivers of concern and a reason for a reassessment of your integrity and our trust and confidence in you.”

    Alhaji Musa Ikushigya reminded Sule he assured the group he would not allow the sales of the edifice to stand while campaigning. 

    Read Also: Herdsmen attacks: Sad memories of lost loved ones as displaced villagers return home in Nasarawa

    “More disturbing is the fact that due process of public procurement procedure was not even followed in the alleged sale of the property, and no payment whatsoever can be traceable to that effect,” he added.

    Another chieftain of the group, Sunday Alidzi said Nasarawa indigenes in Lagos state would resist any move to sell the property.

    “This property holds significant importance to the Nasarawa State community in Lagos, serving as a symbol of our state’s presence and influence in the economic capital city. We repulse this gross misconduct and are ready to defend our collective assets with all our strength,” he added.

    Danladi Ojito, another top member of the Nasarawa State Development Association, Lagos State Chapter, called on Sule to take immediate action to ensure the protection of the property at the liaison office and the safeguarding of the indigenes therein to avert further harassment until the investigation is concluded.