In a continued display of dissatisfaction, women in Nasarawa State staged a protest in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday, decrying what they perceive as injustice in the gubernatorial election outcome that favored the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Abdullahi Sule, over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, David Ombugadu.
The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had initially declared Ombugadu the winner on October 2, ousting Governor Sule. However, the Court of Appeal later overturned the decision, reinstating Sule as the victor.
Addressing journalists in Lafia, the leader of the protesting women groups, Hanatu John, asserted that democracy should reflect the will of the people through popular votes. She questioned why the candidate with the highest votes was not declared the winner and expressed concern about the security situation in the state, which she claimed hindered residents from accessing their farmlands.
John called upon the Supreme Court to intervene and deliver justice, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic principles. Additionally, she appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the international community to intervene and preserve democracy in Nasarawa State and the entire country.
The women, dressed in black attire, brandished placards with various inscriptions such as “Count Every Vote: Protect Democracy in Nasarawa State,” “Bring back our mandate: Our votes are our Rights,” and “Our farms are not safe, our husbands are killed, widows are raped,” among others.
Margaret Alu, another protester, highlighted the anguish experienced by the women, citing the loss of farmlands to herdsmen and the overall discontent since the election results favored Governor Sule.
The ongoing protests, which began in March, signify the persistence of these women in seeking what they describe as electoral justice, with a plea for a thorough review of the governorship election results at the Supreme Court to restore what they consider their mandate.