The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by David Umbugadu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, challenging the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule. In a unanimous decision, the panel of justices ruled that the appeal lacked merit, and no costs were awarded.
The legal battle unfolded after the Election Petition Tribunal in Lafia nullified Governor Sule’s victory on October 2, declaring David Umbugadu as the winner of the poll. In response, Governor Sule and the All Progressives Congress (APC) sought to overturn the tribunal’s verdict by appealing the decision.
On November 23, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment, disagreeing with the tribunal’s decision and affirming Governor Sule’s election. The appeal court pointed out that the tribunal had relied on legally inadmissible evidence in declaring Umbugadu the winner of the March 18 poll.
The appellate court highlighted that the tribunal had wrongly considered the evidence of eight PDP witnesses whose written statements were not submitted alongside the petition. It emphasized that the relevant constitutional and electoral provisions mandate filing all written statements on oath and the petition within the stipulated time frame.
Unsatisfied with the appeal court’s judgment, David Umbugadu took the case to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s decision.