Abuja, NigeriaÂ
In a pivotal development, the Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of Governor Abdullahi Sule, resolving the contentious issue of fair hearing raised during the election trial. The court determined that the election trial court failed to accord Governor Sule fair hearing, a crucial aspect in legal proceedings.
Truth Live News gathered that the Court of Appeal criticized the Tribunal for allowing the inclusion of evidence from Subpoenaed Witnesses without proper front-loading of their written statements along the petition.
Consequently, the evidence presented by PW5, PW6, PW7, PW8, PW12, PW13, PW20, and PW21, along with associated exhibits, were deemed incompetent and expunged from the court records.
Governor A.A Sule’s prayers for the reversal of the Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment were not only admitted but also approved by the Court of Appeal. As a result, Governor Sule is now officially recognized as the duly elected governor of Nassarawa state.
This ruling marks a significant turn of events, overturning the prior decision of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Nasarawa State.
Previously, the tribunal nullified Governor Sule’s election and declared David Ombugadu of the PDP as the rightful winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
In delivering the Tribunal judgment virtually, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, had asserted that Ombugadu was the lawfully elected governor of Nasarawa State. Ombugadu’s legal challenge centered on the alleged unjustifiable reduction of his actual votes and the purported increase in Abdullahi Sule’s votes, particularly in the EC8Bs forms of Gayam and Chiroma Wards in Lafia Local Government Area.
This turn of events solidifies Governor Sule’s position as the legitimate leader of Nassarawa state. The legal battle would be settled in the Supreme Court if “Davematics “ appeals.