Supreme Court Takes Final Decision On Kogi Governorship Election

The Supreme Court on Friday, 23rd August, 2024, declared Ahmed Usman Ododo as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State.

The ruling of the Supreme Court brings to an end the legal processes challenging the outcome of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

Naija News reports that in a judgement authored and read by Justice Sadiq Umar, a five-man panel of the apex court affirmed the election victory of Ododo, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court ruled that the appeal by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Yakubu Muritala Ajaka, marked SC/CV/654/2024, was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

All three issues identified for determination in the appeal were resolved against the appellants.

Similarly, the court also dismissed the appeal by the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Olayinka Baimoh, seeking to void the victory of Ahmed Usman Ododo of the APC in the governorship election.

Delivering the verdict in the appeal, marked SC/CV/653/2024, the Supreme Court panel ruled that the suit was incompetent, the notice of appeal having been filed outside the 14 days allowed by law for the filing of such notice.

Justice Sadiq Umar, who read the lead judgment, held that since the preliminary objection filed against the competence of the appeal was meritorious, it was of no use for the court to consider other issues raised in the appeal.

He proceeded to dismiss the appeal and awarded a cost of ₦5 million against the appellants and in favour of the respondents.