The Court of Appeal’s Abuja premises are heavily guarded as it prepares to issue a decision that might make or break the Nasarawa State Governorship election legal dispute.
Several heavily armed security guards from the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, the DSS, and the Civil Defence Corps have blocked up all roads leading to the Appellate Court.
Commercial and private cars that previously travelled the Federal Secretariat roads to different locations have been rerouted, and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel are engaged in a tumultuous struggle to manage the increased traffic caused by the road closure.
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According to OBASANJO NEWS24, the court’s management implemented the security measures to prevent potential lawlessness following the verdict.
As of the time of this report, everyone entering the court grounds through the main gate—including reporters, attorneys, litigants, and court employees—was subjected to a thorough frisking process.
Even though a number of journalists were granted accreditation to cover the ruling, only five of them are permitted entry into the courtroom because of issues with crowd management and seating arrangements, according to a court official.
Our observer saw that numerous others were kept at a considerable distance by armed mobile cops, while only a small number of recognised political party representatives and their supporters who had arrived at the court as early as 8 am were allowed entry into the premises.
David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the state’s current governor, are engaged in a bitter judicial struggle.
Recall that on March 18, the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declared, by a majority vote of two to one, that the election of Governor Sule was void due to his failure to receive the majority of valid votes cast.
Ombugadu, a former member of the House of Representatives, was proclaimed the election’s legitimate victor by the Tribunal.
The justices are waiting for the judgement to be delivered in the interim.
