The Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja , on Monday, upheld the election of Usman Ododo as the authentic Governor of Kogi State.
In a unanimous decision, the tribunal also confirmed the victory of Ododo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the November 11 governorship election in the state and dismissed the petition by Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu held that the SDP and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka failed to prove their allegations that the election was marred by irregularities, manipulations and non-compliance with relevant laws.
In the lead judgment, Birnin-Kudu held that the election “was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.”
The tribunal further held that the petition was bereft of substance and accordingly dismissed
It also held that all the witness evidence filed before it was incompetent and full of inconsistencies the petition.
The tribunal upheld the submissions of the respondents that the allegations of forgery raised in the petition were pre-election related, which ought to have been raised 14 days after the documents were submitted to INEC.
