Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Kogi State governorship election on November 11, 2023, has taken his case to the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
He is challenging the judgement of the State Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld the victory of Ahmed Usman Ododo from the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the elected governor.
In his appeal, Ajaka strongly believes that the tribunal’s ruling was a miscarriage of justice. He insists that he and his party emerged as the true winners of the election and deserve to be declared as such.
The appeal is based on 31 grounds, including the tribunal’s judgement, the credibility of witnesses, instances of over-voting, Ododo’s eligibility, and requests for consequential measures.
Ajaka’s legal team, led by Pius Akubo (SAN), argues that while the tribunal recognized that Ajaka filed his case within the specified timeframe, they disagreed with the tribunal’s decision to dismiss the case despite acknowledging the presence of over-voting and electoral fraud.
Expressing optimism, Ajaka believes that the Court of Appeal will vindicate his legal team and grant the requested reliefs, ultimately declaring him as the rightful governor of Kogi State.
He commends the professionalism and perseverance of his legal team, acknowledging their meticulous gathering of evidence and thorough examination of data in presenting a compelling case to the tribunal.
Despite the setback at the tribunal, Ajaka remains resolute, stating that the judgement will not withstand scrutiny in the long run. He vows to continue fighting for his stolen mandate and ensuring that his voice is not silenced.
