The Kogi State Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the November 11, 2023 election, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, has approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja to challenge the State Election Petition Tribunal judgement, which affirmed Ahmed Usman Ododo of APC as the duly elected governor.
In the record compiled and transmitted by lawyer, Pius Akubo (SAN), to the Court of Appeal in Abuja on 14/6/2024, the appellant stated emphatically that the judgement of the State Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed the governorship election of Ododo of the APC, was a serious miscarriage of justice.
He insisted that he and his party won the November 11, 2023 election and should therefore be declared the rightful winner.
He submitted thirty-one grounds of appeal comprising five (5) grounds over the Tribunal ruling itself, (10) ten grounds on competence of their witnesses, (10) grounds in respect of over voting, five (5) grounds on non-qualification of Ododo and one (1) ground for prayers with consequential orders.
The appellants who are dissatisfied with the decision of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal headed by Hon. Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin Kudu, submitted the petition vide No EPT /KG/GOV/ 03/2023 of 14/6/2024.
The summary of the appeals is “An order allowing the appeal, an order setting aside the judgement of E.P Tribunal, an order restoring the testimony of P.W 1 as well as all documents tendered by the appellants but expunged from the records.
“An order that the 2nd respondent was not even qualified to have contested the election into the office of Governor of Kogi state held on 11/11/2023 and that all votes ascribed and or allocated to the 2nd and 3rd Respondents 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.
“Such further orders as this Honourable Court may be inclined to make by virtue of its power under section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act.
“It will be recalled that shortly after the controversial judgement of 27/5/2024, Ajaka said that the long walk to freedom in Kogi State has just begun.
“In his reaction, Ajaka said, “Despite the outcome of the Tribunal I am proud to say that we have a team of brilliant lawyers who did an outstanding job in proving the case of over-voting during the November 11, 2023 election”.
He maintained that throughout the entire process, his lawyers exhibited the highest level of professionalism and tenacity.
According to him “They meticulously gathered evidence, scrutinised data and presented a compelling case to the tribunal. Unfortunately, the tribunal despite agreeing to the embarrassing over-voting and rigging exercise, struck our case out.
“These lawyers did not fail us. We are very optimistic that they will be vindicated by the end of the petition. I can assure you that this judgment will not stand the test of time. Yes, we may have lost the battle at the Tribunal but the war is far from over. Our stolen mandate and our voice will not be silenced”.
In his reaction, the lead legal team of the appellant, Pius Akubo(SAN) stressed that the judgement of 27/5/2024 agreed that Ajaka filed his case within the stipulated time frame.