The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Nasarawa State, David Ombugadu, has condemned the remarks made by Governor Abdullahi Sule on the State Election Petitions Tribunal judges.
Ombugadu said the remarks were a disservice to the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system, and have no place in responsible and respectful political discourse.
Governor Sule while reacting to the verdict of the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, had alleged that two Christian judges conspired to remove him from office due to religious sentiments.
The governor, who made the remarks during the 2023 Peace and Development Summit for Young University Students in Abuja in a viral video said: “A lot of you must have read the tribunal ruling in our state when two of the judges, who are Christians, decided that a Christian won the election and one Muslim judge decided that it is the Muslim who won the election.”
But, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja signed by the director, Media and Publicity, David Ombugadu Campaign Organisation, Mike Omeri, Ombugadu said such statement from the governor was deeply regrettable.
Ombugadu said the comments not only lacked accuracy but also pose a threat to the unity and cohesion of Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.
The statement reads in part: “We deplore AA Sule’s comments, which seek to divide our society along religious lines. Such divisive statements are not only inaccurate but also harmful to the unity and harmony of our state and Nigeria in general.
“It is regrettable that AA Sule would make sweeping and unfounded claims regarding the religious affiliations of the tribunal judges who presided over the Nasarawa State election case. These remarks do a disservice to the integrity and impartiality of our judicial system, and they have no place in responsible and respectful political discourse.
“Nasarawa State is known for its rich diversity and the peaceful coexistence of people from various religious backgrounds. Our strength lies in our ability to live together in harmony, respecting one another’s beliefs, and working collectively towards the progress of our state. We must uphold these values and refrain from making statements that could undermine our shared heritage of unity.”
He called on the governor to retract his statements and apologise for any offence caused by his remarks.
“It is essential for our leaders to set an example of responsible leadership and to promote inclusivity, respect, and tolerance,” he stated.
When contacted for comment, the chief press secretary to the Nasarawa State governor, Ibrahim Addra, said the state government will officially respond to the claims later.
Tunde Oguntola is an award-winning journalist with over 10 years of experience in print and broadcast media. He is also a political correspondent and public affairs analyst.
His Twitter handle is @TUNEXOguntola
