Kogi gov’ship: A/Court reserves judgment in Ajaka’s appeal

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal by the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate, Muritala Ajaka, challenging the judgement that upheld the election of Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State. A three-member panel of justices of the appellate court reserved judgment in the appeal for a date that would be […]

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal by the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate, Muritala Ajaka, challenging the judgement that upheld the election of Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State.

A three-member panel of justices of the appellate court reserved judgment in the appeal for a date that would be communicated to parties after the adoption of all their briefs filed in the matter.

In the appeal, the SDP and Ajaka are asking the appellate court to overturn the earlier judgement that upheld the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ododo’s victory and declare them the winners of the November 11, 2023 election.

However, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), asked the appellate court to dismiss the appeal filed by Ajaka and his party for lacking in merit.

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He argued that the Court of Appeal had decided that if the grounds of a petition were inconsistent with one another and were not consistent with the reliefs, it should be struck out.

On his part, counsel to Governor Ododo, Joseph Daudu (SAN), submitted that the appellants failed to prove allegations of over-voting, which he maintained is not applicable under Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Counsel to the APC, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), asked the Court of Appeal to dismiss the SDP and Ajaka’s appeal for being incompetent.