The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of Muritala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party candidate in the Kogi State governorship election, affirming the victory of Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress. The court’s decision was unanimous, with a five-member panel resolving all three issues in favor of the respondents.
Ajaka had challenged the result of the November 11, 2023 election, which Ododo won with 446,237 votes. The Supreme Court’s judgment follows the dismissal of Ajaka’s petition at the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
The court also dismissed the appeal of the Action Alliance and its governorship candidate, Olayinka Baimoh, for being incompetent and filed outside the allowed time frame. The respondents were awarded a cost of N5m against the appellants.
This decision brings an end to the legal challenges against Governor Ododo’s election victory, solidifying his position as the duly elected governor of Kogi State.
