The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, has announced his intention to challenge the outcome of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s decision, which upheld Usman Ododo’s election as the duly elected governor of Kogi State. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Gabam expressed strong disapproval of the tribunal’s judgment, alleging that it was a miscarriage of justice designed to disenfranchise the people of Kogi State.
Gabam raised serious concerns about the integrity of the tribunal’s decision, particularly highlighting the issue of premature publication. “Thirty minutes into the delivery of the judgment, it was published by Reporters. How did they get the judgment?” he questioned, suggesting that the judgment was leaked before it was officially delivered. This, he argued, undermines the credibility of the entire process.
He also criticized the tribunal for dismissing the SDP’s petition on the grounds that the party failed to demonstrate infractions on the BVAS machines, which they had no access to. “One of the grounds the Tribunal predicated the dismissal of our petition is our alleged failure to demonstrate infractions which occurred on the BVAS machines which we had no access to,” Gabam said, pointing out the inherent unfairness in being judged for failing to provide evidence that was inaccessible to them.
Determined to pursue justice, Gabam declared that the party is prepared to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. He emphasized that the SDP will not relent until they reclaim what they believe to be their rightful mandate from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of Governor Ododo.
The tribunal, which convened in Abuja, had upheld Ododo’s victory in the November 11, 2023 election, dismissing the SDP’s petition as lacking in substance. The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, concluded that the SDP and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, failed to substantiate their claims of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022. The panel further described the witness testimonies presented by the SDP as incompetent and riddled with inconsistencies.
Despite this setback, Ajaka remains resolute. In a statement released shortly after the tribunal’s verdict, he conveyed his determination to continue the legal battle. “Despite the outcome at the tribunal, I am proud to say that we had a team of brilliant lawyers who did an outstanding job in proving the case of overvoting during the election. Their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of democracy have left an indelible mark on our case as we push further,” he asserted.
Ajaka praised the professionalism and tenacity of his legal team, who meticulously gathered evidence, scrutinized data, and presented a compelling case to the tribunal. He expressed optimism that their efforts would eventually be vindicated. “Throughout the entire process, our lawyers exhibited the highest level of professionalism and tenacity. They meticulously gathered evidence, scrutinized data, and presented a compelling case to the tribunal, but the tribunal despite agreeing to over-voting 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,” his statement read.
Gabam’s and Ajaka’s remarks highlight a deep-seated belief within the SDP that justice has not been served. They remain committed to fighting the tribunal’s decision, confident that higher judicial scrutiny will ultimately favor their cause. The coming days will likely see this legal battle intensify, as the SDP takes its case to the Supreme Court in pursuit of what they believe is electoral justice for the people of Kogi State.
