Protest Rocks Nasarawa, Businesses Shut After Supreme Court Ruling

Some residents have taken over the streets of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, to protest against the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement that affirmed the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

It was learnt that one of the roads blocked by protesters is the Lafia-Jos Road where they burnt tyres and chanted anti-government slogans.

It was reported that shops, business centres and schools within the area were hurriedly closed to protect lives and property.

The Supreme Court, on Friday, upheld the election of Abdullahi Sule as the Governor of Nasarawa State.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in the lead judgment, resolved all the issues identified for determination, against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, David Ombugadu.

The PDP and its candidate had sought to set aside the November 23, 2023 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which reversed the earlier judgment of the election tribunal sacking Governor Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

One Tonye Barcanista in a post on X said titled, ‘Protest breaks out in Nasarawa state over miscarriage of Justice ⚖️ by the Supreme Court,’ lemanted, “It is unfortunate that the judicial reforms initiated by President Umaru Musa Yar'adua administration, and carried on by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan government has been left to deteriorate by their successors, Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“A big judicial heist happened four years ago in Imo state, two bigger electoral fraud happened in 2023 in Nasarawa and Ogun States, both have been worn the garment of legality by the Supreme Court - unfortunately.

“May God protect the common man.”
The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on October 2, 2023, sacked Governor Sule of the APC and declared Ombugadu of the PDP as winner of the election.

However, the APC and its candidate were not satisfied with the tribunal judgment, hence, they filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment.

The appellate court overturned the tribunal judgment and affirmed the election of the APC candidate, but the PDP candidate approached the Supreme Court for the final verdict on the matter.