A Peoples Democratic Party Chieftain, Senator Walid Jibrin has expressed concerns over the political situation in Nasarawa State and called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to immediately hand over the mantle of leadership to David Ombugadu.
The former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees while noting that Islam does not approve of robbery, injustice or cheating; said it was shocking that Governor Sule has resorted to religion as a tool against his opponent, notwithstanding the glaring failure at the elections.
Speaking on behalf of the PDP at a press conference in Abuja, Senator Jibrin tasked both Muslims and Christians in the state to give their total support to Dr David Ombugadu as the Governor of Nasarawa State.
He said, ” I am a devout Muslim and elder of over 70 years, I am shocked by Sule’s attempt to blame his defeat on religion rather than the overwhelming facts before God and all Nigerians, which showed that he didn’t win the last governorship election in Nasarawa State and should therefore honourably vacate the seat for the winner Dr David Ombugadu of the PDP”.
Recalling incidents ahead of the 2023 electioneering campaign, Senator Jibrin said it was very clear that Nasarawa people were no longer with the incumbent Governor, Abdullahi Sule of the APC.
He said, ”From the 1st APC campaign outing in Toto Local Government, the Governor was greeted by street protests from women and youths. They told him clearly that they were tired of his lack of performance and empty promises.
”In fact, Toto had been without electricity for almost ten years of APC governorship in our state. Governor Sule was out of touch with the needs and aspirations of the people of Nasarawa State.
”The Presidential election on February 25 was the foretaste of things to come. In Nasarawa State, the ruling party, the APC came last!
”In the governorship election, Governor Sule suffered a crippling defeat as voters in his Local Government of Akwanga overwhelmingly rejected him and voted massively for the PDP governorship candidate Dr. David Ombugadu.
”In Sule’s senatorial zone, he suffered crushing defeat after four years in office.
”The situation in the Southern Zone was even worse, the Governor was defeated flatly in Lafia the state capital and in Doma Local Govt where His Deputy Dr Akabe hails from!
”Obi Local Government also rejected him and voted massively for Dr David Ombugadu of the PDP! These are the most populous LGAs in the Southern zone!
”In the West Senatorial zone, only Keffi gave Sule any real votes. He was defeated in Kokona where the state Chairman of APC hails from and in Karu which has the highest numbers of registered voters in our state.
”Recall that by Sunday morning, Dr Ombugadu from all the uploads on the INEC IREV platform, had already won the governorship election by a comfortable margin.
”This is because by Sunday 19th March, 99.67 percent of all polling unit results had been uploaded, including the results of all polling units in Gayam and Ciroma Wards in Lafia town, where INEC later shamelessly manipulated by adding magic votes at the Local Government collation centre just to declare the loser as the winner to the shock of all Nigerians!
”We were all shocked by what happened because up to this day, the results from polling units from Nasarawa state on the INEC IREV platform show that Engr. Sule lost to Dr Ombugadu of the PDP.”
