Supreme Court Verdict On Nasarawa Gubernatorial Election: Matters Arising
By: Yahaya Kana Ismaila
On Friday, 19th January, 2024, the Supreme Court made its last set of returns from the 2023 elections. Among the cases decided, was the case of Nasarawa state where a Supreme Court panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekerekun dismissed the appeal filed by David (Davematics) Ombugadu of the PDP for lacking merit.
In so doing, the Supreme Court upheld the 23rd November, 2023 decision of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja which overturned the majority decision of the Nasarawa gubernatorial election tribunal which earlier gave victory to David Ombugadu of the PDP.
Since I’m not a lawyer and therefore incompetent to discuss the merit or demerits of the arguments presented by both sides, I will be steering clear of that delicate endeavour. What I’m however, very competent of commenting on, is the aftermath of the judgement, specifically the ill advised and wrongly conceptualised protest that greeted the declaration in Lafia and other places.
The police has since returned calm to the state capital by arresting some 38 people who participated in that protest. Unfortunately, unless we want to play the ostrich, that protest should not have come as a surprise to us. This is because, the PDP appears to have consolidated these nude protests into its search for a judicial victory. This may sound hilarious, but it’s true nonetheless.
Women have been protesting nude, at the state capital, Lafia from the day governor Abdullahi Sule was returned elected by the electoral umpire INEC. One commentator opined albeit in a jocular mood that, members of the Nasarawa Governorship election tribunal may have been haunted by pictures of women protesting naked to give their initial decision which returned Ombugadu as duly elected. He pressed further that, perhaps, Sule’s fortunes lie in Courts of higher jurisdiction scheduled to hold in Abuja where he’s sure nude protester will not muster the temerity to besiege. Such is the extent of this dark practice of thrusting women, most of them old into matching the streets of Lafia, Akwanga or wherever those holding the leash deem fit to makes statements that have no judicial value.
Many of us have cried our voices hoarse in condemnation of that practice, but those who, for reasons best known to them have played active roles in encouraging those debasing act came for our heads. I had feared that these women, now introduced into something so sinister may not know when to stop and I have proven right by reports of the reenactment of the protests following the Supreme Court judgement filtered through.
In all of these, I retained some hope, that perhaps for this last time and in humility not of defeat, but of appreciation of the concluded battle, David (Davematics) Ombugadu would not only address the protesters, but tell them in no uncertain terms with the judgement of the Supreme Court, the protests too must come to an end. Sadly, he failed to do that.
So, an opportunity to emerge victorious even in defeat was allowed to go begging. It will be an understatement to say Ombugadu’s speech fell way short of the expectations. Where we expected a definite call for the cessation of these protests, he delivered an opium rhetoric which purports to thank the protesters for their support and dedication to his cause.
For discerning minds, that’s a call for unrelenting protests since he considers them a confirmation of the people’s love for his candidature and his ambition. This is regardless of the fact that the Supreme Court has, by its pronouncement, brought his governorship ambition to a halt, at least in this round.
My disappointment of Ombugadu’s speech is carried through, Governor Sule’s response to the protests. In my view, his curt retort that protest won’t undo his Supreme Court victory Governor’s fell short of the standard expected of an individual of his experience. As someone who has just emerged from a tortuous democratic and judicial journey, I expect our governor to not only be magnanimous in victory, but humble and all accepting. Sadly, he appears to have communicated the opposite. I believe this to be an opportunity lost. I, and expect many others of a Nasarawa state persuasion would have expected a more inclusive statement which set out to allay whatever fears protesters may be harboring.
Well, all hope is not lost. I expect the governor to engage with the police to have the arrested protesters released by Monday. This is the least expected of a father, regardless of the antics of his children. Governor Sule must also communicate to his supporters that his victory at the polls and the Supreme Court is for everyone.
I challenge Ombugadu too, to emerge from his shrewd rhetorics and address the people and especially admonish them to desist from these protests forthwith. This is what every responsible leader who values the lives of his supporters will do. Sitting on the fence won’t do. It is either he’s condemning the protesters, especially since the protests no longer serve any purpose or he’s enabling them. No middle ground.
Let everyone involved in this unenviable task of orchestrating unrest in our dear state know that when the real gains of anarchy come to town, even they and their loved ones won’t be spared. Power comes from God. Let us accept this as the outcome of providence and desist from insulting our various faiths!
