The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken a decisive step in response to the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) before the Kogi governorship tribunal.
INEC tendered election documents to contest the petition, challenging the outcome of the gubernatorial election held on November 11, 2023.
In the contested election, Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged as the winner, securing 446,237 votes. He defeated Murtala Ajaka of the SDP, who garnered 259,052 votes, and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 46,362 votes.
During Monday’s tribunal session, INEC’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku, representing Kanu Agabi, tendered a series of crucial documents on behalf of the commission. These documents included INEC regulations and guidelines for the election, manuals for electoral officers, Form EC8C, Form EC8B, Form EC8E, a list of accredited agents for SDP, a list of accredited ward agents, and receipts of payment for forms, among others.
Ado Birnin-Kudu, chairman of the tribunal, admitted the documents as evidence and marked them as exhibits. Following this, Njoku requested an adjournment to allow INEC to present its witnesses on the next scheduled date.
The tribunal judge granted the adjournment, scheduling the continuation of the hearing for April 16. Earlier discussions at the tribunal centered on amending the time allotted to the 2nd and 3rd respondents to present their witnesses, considering the deadline for the SDP’s petition, which expires on May 29. Consequently, Birnin-Kudu reduced the allotted time from 10 days to five, assuring parties that further adjustments could be made if necessary.
With the conclusion of the SDP’s case on April 5 after presenting 25 witnesses.
