The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Muritala Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), against the May 27, 2024, decision of the state election petition tribunal.
The tribunal had affirmed the victory of Governor Usman Ododo, who contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November 11, 2023, election. The tribunal concluded that SDP and Ajaka failed to substantiate their claims of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
The tribunal’s panel unanimously found the witness evidence presented by the petitioners to be inconsistent and incompetent. Additionally, allegations of forgery were deemed pre-election matters that should have been raised within 14 days of document submission to INEC.
During Thursday’s hearing, the appellate court reserved judgment, with a decision date to be communicated later. The respondents urged the court to dismiss Ajaka’s appeal, arguing that the evidence provided was insufficient. They noted that out of 660 listed witnesses, only 25 were called, none of whom were polling unit agents.
Ajaka’s counsel, Pius Akubo, argued that the tribunal’s judgment was a miscarriage of justice and requested that the Court of Appeal declare Ajaka the winner of the governorship election. The appellants based their appeal on 31 grounds, insisting they won the election.
The Kogi State Governorship Election on November 11, 2023, resulted in Ododo’s victory, with Ajaka coming in second.
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