The Appellate Court, while resolving all four grounds of appeal against the Social Democratic Party ,SDP, and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, held that the petitioners failed to prove all the allegations in their petition beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court also ruled that the issue of alleged certificate forgery against Ododo is a pre-election matter and ought to have commenced at the Federal High Court.

In November 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, as the winner of the keenly contested November 11, 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election.

Ododo polled 446,237 votes, to beat his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party ,SDP, who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Ajaka approached the tribunal seeking an overturn of the election results and an order directing INEC to conduct a fresh election in about five LGAs.

The SDP and its candidate challenged the poll on the grounds of alleged forgery, voting and non-compliance to the Electoral Act.They also called some witnesses from the five Local Government Areas including Adavi, and Okene LGAs, disputing the results in the polling units.  But the tribunal dismissed the petition and affirmed Ododo’s election, holding that the petitioner could not prove that the governor presented a forged certificate, among other things.

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Ajaka, in a statement, denied alleged claims by the Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, and former governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, that he has agreed to give up the legal battle to reclaim his mandate in the election.

Ajaka said in the statement, it would be a massive betrayal of their shared struggle, the impoverished workers, retirees, and the people of Kogi State, as well as the memory of  those who were killed, for him to even consider having any discussions with them to compromise the historic struggle.

Ajaka stressed that he would not give up the fight as it is a fight for all of Kogi and not just for him adding that  said  impoverished, terrorized, and dehumanized people of Kogi State and their families, those who were killed and injured, are those he is fighting for.

Recall that Ajaka’s legal team approached the appellate court in a 32-ground appeal, in which they prayed that the court set aside the judgment of the tribunal.

Ajaka said all the necessary legal procedures were followed to ensure that the appeal is heard and determined within the given timeframe and that he is confident that he will be successful.

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