In the appeal filed before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, SDP and Ajaka, through their lead counsel, Pius Akubo (SAN) dated June 14, contended that the judgement of the tribunal occasioned a miscarriage of justice in deciding the winner of the November 11, 2023 election.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, have lost their appeal against the judgment of the Kogi State Governorship Election petition tribunal in Abuja, which declared Usman Ododo as the duly elected governor.
In the appeal filed before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, SDP and Ajaka, through their lead counsel, Pius Akubo (SAN) dated June 14, contended that the judgement of the tribunal occasioned a miscarriage of justice in deciding the winner of the November 11, 2023 election.
However, SaharaReporters learnt that in its judgement on Thursday, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the election petition tribunal and dismissed the appeal filed by Ajaka and the SDP.
SaharaReporters had reported that Ajaka, the SDP candidate lost at the state Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
Kogi held its off-cycle election on November 11, 2023, amid allegations of rigging and vote-buying.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election.
In the petition, INEC, Ododo and the APC were listed as the 1st to 3rd respondents respectively.
Meanwhile, SDP and Ajaka asked the appellate court to overturn the earlier judgement that upheld the APC and Ododo and declare them the winners of the election.
The appellants also asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement of the Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin Kudu-led panel delivered on May 27 and restore the testimony of their first witness and other documents tendered to prove alleged over voting in the election.
The appellants also argued that Ododo was not qualified to contest the election into the office of Governor of Kogi State and that all votes ascribed and/or allocated to him and the APC should be voided.
“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,” they submitted.