PDP calls for a security agency investigation into the impersonation.
The Nasarawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns about alleged impersonation by suspected members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, and has called upon security agencies to investigate and uncover the individuals behind this alleged misconduct.
A youth group known as the Coalition of PDP Youths in Nasarawa State, which claims to be officially recognized by the PDP, held a press briefing in Lafia on Friday. During the briefing, they accused the Judges of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in the state of declaring the PDP’s candidate, David Ombugadu, the winner of the March 18, 2023 elections due to religious sentiments.
Comrade Daniel Agbo, the Chairman of the group, expressed his concerns: “Most worrisome is that after taking a closer look at the ruling by the tribunal, we realized that merit was compromised for religious sentiment. If not, how on earth will you justify such a shambolic ruling where out of three Judges, the two Christian Judges ruled in favor of their Christian brother and candidate of the PDP, Hon David Emmanuel Ombugadu, while the remaining one Muslim Judge ruled in favor of his Muslim brother and candidate of the APC, Engr Abdullahi Sule? This is unfortunate and condemnable.”
The group also called on stakeholders at the Appeal Court, especially the Judges, to thoroughly review the tribunal’s judgment without any religious bias or other undue sentiments witnessed at the lower court.
In response to this development, the PDP Youths Leader in the state, Muhammed Sani, issued a statement distancing the party from the group and its actions. He denied any affiliation with the Coalition of PDP Youths and urged the state’s residents to disregard the group entirely. Sani emphasized that the PDP will not be distracted by individuals who do not have the party’s best interests or those of its governorship candidate at heart.
Sani clarified the party’s stance on the tribunal’s verdict, stating, “We want to make it clear that the PDP in Nasarawa State fully supports the tribunal’s verdict that resulted in the removal of Governor Abdullahi Sule. The facts and merits of the case, as ruled by the tribunal, are indisputable, and we maintain our unwavering confidence in the integrity of the tribunal’s decision.”
He also pointed out that it was the state’s current administration that has been involved in supporting groups not affiliated with the PDP. Sani attributed the division of people along religious lines to statements made by Governor Abdullahi Sule during a recent Summit in Abuja. He claimed that these divisive actions led to the sponsorship of groups to further disseminate their claims.
Sani concluded by urging the people of Nasarawa State to reject the claims made by the Coalition of PDP Youths, characterizing them as baseless and without merit. He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to respecting the tribunal’s ruling and standing firmly behind the merits of the case.
Efforts to obtain a response from the state’s APC Publicity Secretary, Douglas Otaru, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report as his phone line was not connecting.