By Ezra Ukanwa, Abuja

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, religious leaders, have said the recent Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s verdict against Governor Abdullahi Sule, marks a resounding victory for truth and democracy in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a press briefing, on Friday, in Abuja, the former PDP Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, Senator Walid Jibrin, also expressed hope that in the event of an appeal against the Tribunal verdict, the outcome would still be in favor of the people of Nasarawa.

Jibrin, however, expressed his disappointment that Governor Sule, in the wake of the tribunal verdict, declined to accept the decision and chose to invoke religion as an excuse for not stepping down from office.

Maintaining that Governor Sule’s victory in the election was marred by irregularities, Jibrin warned against using religion as a tool to incite tension in the state.

He expressed optimism that David Ombugadu, the PDP’s governorship candidate in the state, who has been officially declared as the winner of the guber election, would foster development in the state and bridge religious differences.

He said: “In the governorship election Governor Sule suffered crippling defeat as voters in his Local Government of Akwanga overwhelmingly rejected him and voted massively for the PDP Governorship candidate Dr David Ombugadu.

“Similarly, in Sule’s senatorial zone, he suffered crushing defeat after four years in office. The situation in the Southern Zone was even worse for the Governor who 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 winking votes. He was defeated in Kokona where the state Chairman of APC hails from and in Karu which has the highest number of registered voters in our state, Governor Sule was overwhelmingly defeated as voters rejected him in favour of Dr David Ombugadu of the PDP!

“Now every Nigerian that followed the election online knows 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 units 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 center just to declare the loser as the winner to the shock of all Nigerians!

“When Sule was declared protests by women and youths erupted all over the state. The PDP showed maturity by rejecting the fraudulent declaration and following the due process of Law to reclaim Dr Ombugadu’s mandate.

“It is therefore very shocking that instead of accepting the widely anticipated verdict of the Tribunal Governor Sule had decided to plead religion as reason why he won’t leave office for Dr. David Ombugadu of the PDP who is the true winner of the 18 Match 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa state!

“Since the creation of Nasarawa State the Governor has always been a Muslim and there was no any religious fight in the whole of Nasarawa State.

“May I point out clearly that Dr. David Ombugadu is a candidate of both Muslims and Christians in the State. Dr. Ombugadu has never shown any sign of any campaign against Muslims even though he is Christian.”