The Nasarawa State Government has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to desist from blackmailing the judiciary over Nasarawa governorship tussle.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs and made available to newsmen on Monday in Lafia.
The reaction followed the recent protest in Lafia against the Appeal Court governorship election judgment by a group purported to be coalition of indigenous people of Nasarawa State.
The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, November 23 had set aside the judgment of the tribunal of Oct. 2 and declared Sule as the winner of the election.
The governorship elections petition tribunal on Oct. 2, annulled the election of Gov. Abdullahi Sule of All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared David Ombugadu of PDP as the winner of March 18 election.
The governor’s aide said that they watched with great concern the shameful protest against the judgment of the Appeal Court by a group hired by the PDP.
Ahemba added that the decision of the Appeal Court was a true reflection of the popular mandate freely given to the governor by the electorates on March 18.
He explained that the government have confidence in the judiciary and believed that justice would be served at the Supreme Court.
He further explained that when the PDP was declared at the tribunal nobody protested, rather, the governor challenged the decision at the appeal court.
He advised PDP and its candidate to also challenge the outcome of the appeal court as they cannot takeover power through the backdoor.
“The recent stage-managed protest against the Appeal Court judgement by a group of sponsored individuals is a calculated attempt to discredit the courageous, sound and firm judgement of the Appeal Court.
“It also meant to blackmail the nation’s judiciary for choosing to look at the appeal brought before it by the governor on its merit rather than primordial sentiments.
“The same party that was crying of external interference on the governorship dispute in the state is now calling on President Bola Tinubu and international communities to interfere,” he added.
He therefore urged the security agencies in the state to note the dangerous rhetoric hovering very close to instigating hate amongst citizens by the opposition party. (NAN).