• Questions increased votes in Gayam, Chiroma Wards in Lafia

From Abel Leonard, Lafia

The political landscape of Nasarawa State following the 2023 gubernatorial elections has been a battleground marked by contentious disputes, legal wrangling, and allegations of electoral irregularities.

What began as a closely contested race between the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) evolved into a saga of conflicting claims and legal challenges, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the rightful occupant of the governorship seat.

The electoral process, initially heralded as a democratic exercise in determining the state’s leadership, soon transformed into a protracted legal tussle.

Governor Abdullahi Sule’s declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner faced vehement opposition from the PDP candidate, Dr David Ombugadu, who contested the results citing discrepancies between INEC’s declaration and data retrieved from election-related systems.

The electoral build-up saw the consolidation of support for Governor Abdullahi Audu Sule of the APC and Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu of the PDP. However, the aftermath of the primaries witnessed a notable exodus of influential APC members, including prominent figures like Senator Godya Akwashiki, Senator Ahmed Wadada, Hon Jonathan Gbeifi, and Hon Abubakar Sarki Dahiru citing grievances over alleged unfair treatment and manipulation of delegate lists.

Our correspondent gathered that this defection translated into tangible gains for the opposition parties, leading to a striking outcome in the state’s electoral districts. During the federal House of Representatives elections, the APC only secured victory in two seats, conceding defeat to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the southern zone, symbolising a shift in the traditional political stronghold.

Moreover, in the senatorial elections across the three geo-political zones, the APC faced resounding losses to the PDP in the southern zone with Hon. Muhammed Ogoshi Onawo defeating the former governor, Senator Tanko Almakura and to the SDP in both the northern and western zones, indicating a pronounced shift in voter sentiment against the ruling party.

The gubernatorial election held on March 18 was marked by heightened tension and a robust turnout, reflecting the electorate’s fervour to elect their leaders for the next four years. Analysts have pointed out that the APC’s pre-election internal discord significantly contributed to its federal-level setbacks.

The most recent development that underscores the altered political landscape is the substantial dominance of opposition parties in the State House of Assembly, with the opposition securing 13 out of 24 seats, while the APC managed to secure only 9 seats.

Additionally, Honorable Sa’ad Abdullahi Ibrahim, representing Umaisha/Ugya State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged victorious in a fiercely contested legal battle at the appeal court against the incumbent Speaker of the Nassarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA), Honorable Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The contestation takes a convoluted turn, moving from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) initial declaration of Governor Abdullahi Sule as the winner to the recent back-and-forth legal battles.

Following the dissatisfaction expressed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. David Ombugadu, over INEC’s declaration favouring Governor Sule, the matter found its way to the tribunal.

The tribunal’s deliberations, spanning over three months, culminated in a surprising turn as it pronounced Ombugadu as the victor, citing convincing evidence submitted by the PDP candidate.

This verdict was met with widespread celebrations across the state, with supporters expressing their belief that the tribunal’s decision truly reflected the people’s will.

However, Governor Sule contested the tribunal’s ruling at the appeal court, emphasising the tribunal’s lack of authority to subtract votes from the APC tally and questioning the admissibility of evidence presented during the trial.

According to pundits, the appeal court’s subsequent affirmation of Governor Sule’s victory prompted a contrasting reaction. “The state seemed enveloped in a sense of despondency, with many expressing demoralization over the judgment, perceiving it as a dashed hope for the people’s aspirations.”

Political analyst had stressed on the contentious nature of Nasarawa’s gubernatorial election which has brought to the forefront a puzzling element that has stirred debate among political analysts and observers.

“The utilization of two specific wards—Gayam and Chiroma—in Lafia Local Government Area as decisive factors in determining the fate of millions of Nasarawa residents has sparked concern and raised eyebrows.”

They noted that scrutiny surrounding these wards stems from the fact that during the state House of Assembly elections, the ruling APC suffered defeat in both Gayam and Chiroma wards, conceding victory to opposition parties.

However they explained that what further exacerbated the skepticism was the allocation of figures to the APC governorship candidate Abdullahi Sule that purportedly exceeded the number of accredited voters in these wards.

“This discrepancy has added fuel to the fire of controversy and cast doubts on the validity of the electoral process in these areas.”

“Questions loom large regarding the appeal courts verdict on accuracy and integrity of the votes count, especially in wards where the results significantly contradict the prevailing political trend.”

They further argued that the anomalous allocation of figures, seemingly surpassing the accredited votes count, has fuelled concerns of potential irregularities, calling into question the credibility of the electoral outcome in these pivotal wards.

“The implications of such discrepancies in the electoral process raise fundamental concerns about the validity and fairness of Nasarawa State’s gubernatorial election results and their impact on the democratic aspirations of its populace.”

Dr. Ombugadu, undeterred by the appeal court’s decision, has taken the matter to the apex court, the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the appeal court’s ruling.

Ombugadu’s plea to the highest judicial authority hinges on the argument that the appeal court’s judgment failed to address critical issues and praying for a reversal of the ruling in his favour.

Allegations from undisclosed government sources, hesitant to voice their claims publicly due to their political appointments, have surfaced, suggesting that Dr. David Ombugadu emerged as the true winner of the election.

These sources, speaking under anonymity, have alluded to concerns about potential coercion within the government apparatus. They hint at a scenario where traditional rulers are purportedly pressured to endorse what they perceive as an electoral injustice, fearing repercussions if they oppose such coercion.