Mrs Stella Oboshi, the woman leader of Nasarawa State People Democratic Party, on Tuesday, condemned the attack carried out by military personnel on women who were involved in a protest over the Appeal Court verdict that invalidated the victory of David Ombugado of the PDP at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Mrs Oboshi disclosed this shortly after the end of the second day’s protest organized by a group of PDP women in the State.
She said that the attack on women was uncalled for, and it was an injustice to women in the State.
Oboshi, who doubles as the leader of a peaceful women’s demonstration in Nasarawa said that in the protest that women have been undergoing for over six months now, there was no destruction anywhere made by the women and there was no act of disobedience against the law.
She explained that the women came out to demonstrate over an Appeal Court verdict that affirmed the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule whom they did not vote for and he was announced the governor of the State for a second term.
Also speaking during the protest Mr. Adamu Davison Henry, the leader of the PDP concern group said that the judgment by the appeal court falls short of real democratic principles that govern the nation, especially the principle of majority rule.
He said it was disheartening to witness a decision that seems to shield the insincerity of INEC to prove their irregularities, thereby questioning the credibility of our electoral processes.
According to Henry, “We wish to highlight specific instances of irregularities that were overlooked by the tribunal under the guise of technicalities. In the Gayam ward of Lafia Local Government Area, for instance, the total number of accredited voters was recorded as 13,000, while an astonishing 33,000 votes were given to the APC alone.
“Similarly, in the Chiroma ward, the number of accredited voters was documented as 21,000, but INEC announced a staggering 59,000 votes solely for the APC. These discrepancies, among others, were conveniently shielded by the tribunal, completely disregarding the fundamental principles and integrity of our electoral system.
“We firmly believe that it is the responsibility of our judiciary to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and merit in all its judgments. In this particular case, the lack of a thorough investigation into the glaring irregularities is an affront to these principles and undermines the trust of the people in our justice system.
“It is therefore essential that the judiciary, as a pillar of democracy, does not inadvertently provide a platform for the perpetration of electoral injustice.
“The PDP Concern Group Nasarawa in State calls on the competent authorities, particularly the Supreme Court, to thoroughly scrutinize this matter and rectify the injustices that have been committed.
“We trust in the integrity of the judiciary and its commitment to upholding the ideals of democracy in Nigeria,” he said.
