Ahead of the Appeal Court judgment on the governorship election in Nasarawa State, Muslim and Christian supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state on Monday, commenced a seven-day joint prayer session for the party’s governorship candidate, Dr David Ombugadu.
The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had on October 2, 2023, sacked Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress, and declared the PDP candidate, winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Delivering the judgment via zoom, the Chairman of the three-member tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, nullified Sule’s election and held that the petitioners (Ombugadu and the PDP) duly proved their petition before the tribunal.
The seven-day prayer session, according to the participants, is also to ask God to protect the appeal court judges from any evil influence while they discharge their duties.
Speaking with our correspondent in Lafia, the state capital, on Monday, one of the leaders of the prayer group, Suleiman Abdullahi, expressed confidence that justice will be served to the people of the state at the appeal court.
He said, “Allah is the creator of the universe. He neither discriminates nor fail in his promises. So, the moves to change the wishes of the people against the overwhelming mandate given to those they want will not stand.
“We genuinely gave our mandate to the PDP candidate, Dr David Ombugadu, to ensure a positive change in Nasarawa State. We will continue to pray to Allah because we know that he will listen to our supplications and do his will in Nasarawa State.”
Another participant, Rev. Emmanuel Bako, said they will continue to seek the face of God in prayers until justice is served in the state.
He said, “God Almighty is always ahead of every principality. The will of God shall prevail and shame those people insisting on taking the mandate given to David Ombugadu in Nasarawa State.
“The axe of God is waiting for anyone challenging his power and will in this case. It is said in the Book of Isaiah 58:11 that ‘The Lord will guide his people, satisfy their desire and make their bones strong. They shall be like a watered garden, like spring water, whose work does not fail.’”
Bako, therefore urged the judges handling the case not to be partial in justice delivery, but to serve justice to the people of the state so that God Almighty will be pleased with their actions.
Other participants who spoke about the prayer session said they agreed to pray at their respective homes to avert any form of violence from political groups in the state.
The PUNCH reported that the appeal court had reserved its judgment in the case filed by Sule, challenging the declaration of Ombugadu as the duly elected governor in the March 18 election in the state by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
