Kogi gov’ship: SDP candidate appeals tribunal judgement

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka have appealed the judgement of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Muritala in Abuja, which affirmed Ahmed Usman Ododo as the governor.

In the appeal filed before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, SDP and Ajaka, through the lead counsel, Pius Akubo (SAN) dated June 14, contends that the judgement of the tribunal occasioned a miscarriage of justice in deciding the winner of the November 11, 2023 election.

SDP and Ajaka are asking the appellate court to overturn the earlier judgement that upheld the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ododo and declare them the winners of the election.

The appellants are also asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement of the Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin Kudu-led panel delivered on May 27 and restore the testimony of their first witness and other documents tendered to prove alleged over voting in the election. 

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The appellants also argue that Ododo was not even qualified to contest the election into the office of Governor of Kogi State and that all votes ascribed and or allocated to him and the APC are wasted votes. 

“An order granting the reliefs sought by the appellants in the petition and thereupon declaring him (the 1st Appellant) as the duly elected governor of Kogi State,” they submitted.  

The tribunal had in the judgement dismissed SDP’s witnesses and documents for having inconsistencies in their evidence and for not being properly demonstrated, respectively.