The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Muritala Ajaka, and his party, challenging the judgment of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal had previously affirmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Kogi State. Ajaka and the SDP, dissatisfied with this ruling, sought to have it overturned by the Appeal Court.
A three-member panel of justices at the appellate court has reserved judgment to a date that will be communicated to the parties involved, following the adoption of all briefs filed in the matter.
Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), argued for the dismissal of the appeal, citing inconsistencies and insufficiencies in the appellants’ case. He highlighted that the petitioners only called 25 out of the listed witnesses and none were polling unit agents. Additionally, he argued that the 1st prosecution witness did not file a required witness deposition in advance.
Joseph Daudu (SAN), representing Ododo, supported the tribunal’s earlier decision, stating that the appellants failed to prove allegations of over-voting and forgery, and argued that these issues were pre-election matters. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), representing the APC, also called for the dismissal of the petition on grounds of incompetence.
The tribunal had dismissed the SDP and Ajaka’s petition on May 27, ruling that the allegations of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, were not substantiated.