From David Onuoja, Abuja
There was jubilation everywhere at the Supreme Court, Abuja after the Court finally affirmed Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo, as the authentic and elected governor of Kogi State.
It could be recalled that Governor Usman Ododo, was declared winner of the November 11th, 2023, governorship election held in Kogi state after beating the Social Democratic Party candidate, Alhaji Murtala Ajaka.
The candidate of Social Democratic Party, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, was however, unsatisfied with the result, took Ododo to the election Tribunal where the later was declared winner of the election.
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Murtala Yakubu Ajaka was still not satisfied with the ruling of the Kogi State election petition tribunal which was given on the 27th May, 2024; went to the Court of Appeal, Abuja where Usman Ododo was also declared winner.
As that was not enough, the Social Democratic Party candidate went further to the Apex Court in the land (Supreme Court), where he filed a case disagreeing with the tribunal and Appeal Court.
The Supreme Court has finally end the Kogi election brouhaha by affirming the election of Governor Usman Ododo; put to rest the 2023 election case in Kogi State.
The Supreme Court which affirmed the decision of the two lower Courts said Usman Ododo is the duly elected governor of Kogi state. It dismissed Ajaka’s case for lacking in merit and substance.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Sadiq Abubakar Umar, threw out the appeal of Ajaka after resolving all the three issues in dispute against him.
They unanimously held that Ajaka failed to give cogent and verifiable evidence in the series of allegations against Ododo.
Besides, Justice Umar said that most of the allegations were pre-election matters which ought to have taken to the federal high court for resolution before the election.
The Supreme Court consequently dismissed the appeal but did not award cost against the appellants.
Justice Umar upheld the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal which had earlier dismissed the grievances of Ajaka against the election.
