From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday has deferred the verdict on the appeal brought forward by Governor Abdullahi Sule against Doctor Emmanuel David Ombugadu regarding the Nasarawa State governorship election.
The judgment, pertaining to the declaration of the true winner of the election by the state governorship election tribunal, has been reserved for a later date.
During the initial proceedings, Wole Olanikpekun SAN, the appellant counsel, contended that the governorship election tribunal’s judgment was unfair to Governor Abdullahi Sule, highlighting the purported negligence in considering the BVAS presented before the tribunal as grounds for the appeal.
Conversely, Chief Kanu Agabi, representing Doctor Emmanuel Ombugadu, advocated for the dismissal of the appeal and urged the court to uphold the tribunal’s judgment by relying on his brief of argument and the tribunal’s decision.
The panel of three Justices, headed by Justice Onyemenam U. after hearing arguments from all parties involved, announced that the date for the judgment will be communicated to the concerned parties.
Additionally, on the cross-appeal initiated by the PDP governorship candidate Emmanuel Ombugadu challenging a minority judgment delivered by one of the tribunal judges, Justice Onyemenam also deferred judgment to a later date, to be communicated accordingly to all involved parties.
Earlier, Justice Onyemenam had postponed judgment on a motion filed by Doctor Emmanuel Ombugadu’s counsel, seeking the court to dismiss the appellant’s affidavit aiming to present supplementary facts before the court, deeming it incompetent.
It is pertinent to note that the governorship election petition tribunal had nullified Governor Abdullahi Sule’s election, confirming Emmanuel Ombugadu as the rightful winner. Dissatisfied with this decision, Governor Abdullahi Sule sought recourse at the Court of Appeal to challenge the tribunal’s ruling.