*Others Talk Back In Hausa As Gov Addressed Rally
*Uzodimma, Other Bigwigs Present
Obviously angry crowds heckled, booed and hurled a dangerous object at Governor A.A. Sule of Nasarawa State at a presidential campaign rally of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Middle Belt state on Wednesday.
Eye witnesses said the embarrassing development was interpreted as a manifestation of the depth of frustration and despair over the socioeconomic and security policies of the APC which affect the masses.
The attack occurred at Lafia Square in the state capital during the rally which was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, several APC governors led by the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodimma, party stakeholders and other prominent members.
A video of the incident has been trending on various social media platforms and shows the moment an object, reportedly a piece of footwear, was thrown towards the governor while he was addressing the crowd.
The video also shows some people in the crowd talking back at the governor in Hausa language as he addressed the rally.
People&Politics notes that Nasarawa has been something of a swing state recently in the nation’s political pendulum with voters placing their choices in different parties and political personalities and not in monolithic voting, as witnessed in some states.
In the 2023 presidential election, the ruling APC came second in the state with the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, polling
172,922 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party trailed Labour Party’s then candidate, Mr Peter Obi, who received 191,361 votes, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came third with 147,093 votes.
Recall too that Gov. Sule traveled a rocky path to Government House, Lafia in 2023.
In March 2023, INEC had declared him winner of the state’s governorship election with 347,209 votes, beating the previously highly favoured David Ombugadu of PDP who emerged second with 283,016 votes.
But, the PDP candidate expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the election, citing alleged irregularities and approached the State Election Petition Tribunal in Lafia praying it to upturn the result in his favour.
In October 2023, the tribunal in Lafia nullified Sule’s victory and declared Ombugadu winner of the election.
The APC and Sule thereafter moved to overturn the tribunal verdict, heading for the Court of Appeal.
In November 2023, the appellate court faulted the verdict of the tribunal and affirmed Sule’s election.
With the shoe once again on the other foot, Ombugadu took his case to the Supreme Court, where Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, held that the verdict of the Appeal Court was “comprehensive and well considered.”
Consequently, all five members of the apex court panel dismissed Ombugadu’s appeals.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Sule.
