It would be recalled that the SDP and its governorship candidate in the November 11, 2023 poll, are challenging Governor Ododo’s victory in the election.
The proceedings of the Kogi State governorship election petition tribunal, held in Abuja, unfolded with significant deliberations on Friday, resulting in a notable decision to adjourn the petition presented by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Murtala Ajaka, to May 13, 2024. This adjournment marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle stemming from the SDP and its candidate’s challenge against Governor Ododo’s declared victory in the November 11, 2023 poll. The tribunal, comprising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Ododo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively, anticipates the presentation of final written submissions from all parties during the forthcoming adjournment.
The crux of the matter unfolded during Friday’s session when the case was called, and legal representatives for INEC, Governor Ododo, and APC raised objections to Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, leading witness Edidiong Udoh, a Digital Forensic Expert, in presenting evidence. Amidst the legal wrangling, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; Alex Iziyon, SAN; and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, standing for INEC, the governor, and APC, respectively, contended that the petitioners had failed to include the witness’s name in their proof of evidence, and crucially, the witness statement on oath had not been submitted alongside the initial petition.
Adding further complexity to the proceedings, the legal representatives contested that the petitioners had served the reports of the witness’s analysis mere minutes before the commencement of the session, causing disruption and potentially prejudicing the respondents’ ability to prepare a robust response. Despite these objections, Okutepa, undeterred, maintained that the forensic expert was explicitly listed in the petition, appearing on Page 56 as item 10, and asserted that the witness statement had been front-loaded alongside the petition, thus disputing the respondents’ claims.
The courtroom atmosphere crackled with tension as legal arguments clashed, illustrating the high stakes and complexities involved in the electoral dispute. Each side marshaled its legal arsenal, striving to gain an advantageous position in the ongoing legal battle. As the tribunal adjourned the proceedings to May 13, 2024, all eyes remain fixed on the unfolding drama, with the outcome poised to have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Kogi State.
The adjournment provides a brief respite in what promises to be a protracted legal confrontation, affording all parties involved the opportunity to meticulously prepare their final written submissions and fortify their respective legal positions. As the legal saga unfolds, the future of Kogi State’s governance hangs in the balance, with the tribunal poised to deliver a verdict that will reverberate throughout the state’s political corridors and beyond.