Muritala Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has denied rumours that he has withdrawn his application to contest the outcome of the previous governorship election in Kogi State.
In a statement made public to journalists, Ajaka denied that he discontinued the legal process he launched to annul the election of Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The SDP candidate added that his legal team had previously filed a 32-ground appeal with the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.
Recall that on May 27, the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition tribunal officially declared Ododo as the winner of the state's November 11, 2023, gubernatorial contest. The three-member panel headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu rejected the plea that Ajaka of the SDP had presented to them.
According to the tribunal, Ajaka was unable to provide evidence to support his claim that Governor Ododo did not receive the highest number of legitimate votes cast during the election. It also rejected Ajaka's claim that there were numerous anomalies in the election and that there was a flagrant disregard for the Electoral Act of 2022 during its conduct.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared a result in favour of Ododo and the APC, and the tribunal decided that there was no basis to overturn it.
Ajaka, dissatisfied with the decision, petitioned the appellate court to set it aside.
