Supreme Court upholds Kogi’s governor victory, reject Ajaka’s appeal

For the third time, Yakubu Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) governorship candidate, has failed to invalidate Usman Ododo’s victory as Kogi State governor in the November 11, 2023, election.

On Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed Ajaka’s joint appeal with his party, citing a lack of merit and substance.

Justice Sadiq Umar’s lead judgment rejected Ajaka’s appeal, resolving all three disputed issues against him.

The court unanimously held that Ajaka failed to provide verifiable evidence for his allegations against Ododo’s victory.

Most allegations were deemed pre-election matters that should have been addressed in the Federal High Court before the election.

The Supreme Court upheld the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, dismissing Ajaka’s grievances.

On July 11, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Ododo’s election, stating that Ajaka failed to substantiate allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

The appellate court supported the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s decision to expunge evidence from Ajaka’s first witness, citing hearsay.

Allegations of document forgery were deemed pre-election matters for the Federal High Court, not the post-election Tribunal. The tribunal had previously affirmed Ododo’s victory on May 27.