From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Women in Nasarawa State, on Christmas Day, took to the streets with placards to demand justice and restoration of what they called stolen mandate, in the last gubernatorial election in the state.
The women, led by Hanatu John, said it was meaningless celebrating Christmas without their mandate and asked the Supreme Court to rectify the perceived electoral injustice.
“We have been here since March protesting the injustice. Celebrating Christmas seems void when our mandate was stolen from us.
“We have faith in the esteemed judges of the Supreme Court. We believe in their sense of justice, and we implore them to restore our mandate, so that we may enter the New Year with a new governor,” she said.
Another protester, Margaret Alu, said: “We are in anguish. We’ve left our husbands and children behind because there’s nothing to celebrate. We seek justice, and until our mandate is returned, we will not relent.”
The women also pleaded with President Bola Tinubu for intervention, saying they felt captive in their own state. “We are here because there’s no joy at home. Some of us are widows. Others are jobless, and our lands are ravaged by Fulani herdsmen.”
Reinforcing the women’s sentiments, Ngozi Anthony appealed to the Supreme Court judges to act with righteousness and not uphold the decision of the Appeal Court. She emphasized the importance of upholding justice and the will of the people, saying, “We need a change of government. Ombugadu, our son, won the election, and we demand that his mandate be restored.”