Ombugadu Declares 2027 Nasarawa Governorship Ambition Under APC

A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, Mr. David Ombugadu, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ombugadu, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC, made the declaration during a town hall meeting with Eggon people of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District held in Akwanga on Friday. The former member of the House of Representatives, who represented Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency, explained that his decision to join the APC was driven by his desire to contribute to the developmental efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. He also dismissed speculations that his defection to the ruling party was aimed at securing the deputy governorship position in the 2027 election. “I want to use this opportunity to tell you that I will contest the Nasarawa North senatorial by-election to replace our late Distinguished Senator Godiya Akwashiki at the National Assembly,” Ombugadu said. “By God’s grace, I will go to the Senate and subsequently contest for the governorship of the state in 2027. “Anyone saying that I joined the APC to pursue the deputy governorship slot is not correct.” The former lawmaker added that if elected as senator during the forthcoming by-election, he would facilitate development-oriented projects for the Nasarawa North zone. According to him, such projects would include the provision of potable water, scholarship opportunities for students, agricultural empowerment programmes and improved electricity supply. Ombugadu also pledged to work closely with Governor Abdullahi Sule and other APC stakeholders to ensure the party’s victory in future elections, including the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. “For the progress and development of Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large, let us give our maximum support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule for APC’s victory beyond 2027,” he said. He commended Governor Sule for ongoing infrastructural development across the state, particularly the construction of flyovers and underpasses in Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi. Ombugadu further urged eligible citizens who had not yet obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so in order to participate in upcoming elections. In their separate remarks, several political stakeholders expressed support for Ombugadu’s ambition. Among them were Mr. Jacob Ali, former PDP Nasarawa North Zonal Chairman; Mr. Istifanus Abaku, former Administrator of Akun Development Area; and Mrs. Lami Bako, former Speaker of the Akun Legislative Council. Leaders of the Eggon Political Forum and other community stakeholders also pledged their support and prayers for the former lawmaker, stating that Ombugadu enjoys strong grassroots backing. They expressed confidence that he would attract significant development to the Nasarawa North zone if elected as senator in the forthcoming by-election.

Nasarawa: Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal Seeking To Sack Gov Sule

A 5-man panel of the Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party seeking to upturn the electoral victory of Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Sule as winner of the election with 347,209 votes to beat his closest challenger, Ombugadu, who polled 283,016 votes. Not happy with the results declared by INEC, Ombugadu and his party, the PDP, filed a petition at the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the polls. On October 2, 2023, a 3-man panel of the election petition tribunal led by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, in a split decision of two-to-one, declared Ombugadu, the validly elected governor of Nasarawa State. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, affirmed the election of Abdullahi Sule as Nasarawa State governor, after overturning the earlier decision of the election petition tribunal that removed him from office. Delivering judgement on the appeal filed by Sule, a three-member panel of the appeal court held that the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was wrong to have declared David Ombugadu, as the winner of the 18 March election. Not relenting, Ombugadu appealed at the apex court. But in a lead judgment, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun dismissed Ombugadu’s appeal for being ‘devoid of merit, vexatious and incompetent. The panel unanimously held that all the sister appeals abide by the instant judgment. More so, the panel ordered parties to bear their respective costs. Recall that Governor Sule was initially declared the winner of the polls by INEC. But Ombugadu challenged the election outcome at the tribunal, arguing that he won the majority of valid votes during the contest. In a split decision of the tribunal on October 2, two members, forming the majority, declared Ombugadu the winner of the election, while the minority opinion of the only other member affirmed Sule’s victory. Sule subsequently appealed against the majority decision of the tribunal, and won.