Ajaka vs Ojoko: Kogi tribunal picks May 27 to deliver judgment

The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has picked May 27 to deliver judgment in the petition filed by Murtala Ajaka the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the election victory of Governor Usman Ododo.

Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu led three man panel announced the date on Thursday in Abuja in a message communicated to counsel to the parties through its secretary, David Mike, and made available to newsmen.

Recall that the Kogi state gubernatorial election was held on the 11th of November, 2023 and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC)  Ododo was declared winner by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) beating his closest rival, Ajaka of the SDP with a wide margin.

Ajaka, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, had filed a petition before the tribunal, challenging Ododo’s victory.

The case, which commenced in December 2023, came to its highest point on May 13 when SDP, Ajaka, APC, Ododo and INEC adopted their final written addresses, after which the tribunal reserved judgement in the petition.

The APC and Ododo had prayed the tribunal to dismiss Ajaka and SDP’s petition in its totality, claiming that it lacks merit.

INEC, Ododo and the APC had, through their lawyers; Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN; Joseph Daudu, SAN and Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, respectively, had told the tribunal so while adopting their final written addresses and presenting their arguments against the petition.