Ododo Triumphs: Victory Unveiled in Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal

The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) Muritala Ajaka filed a petition, which the tribunal denied.

Usman Ododo has been affirmed as Governor of Kogi state by the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday.

In upholding the election of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tribunal dismissed the petition of Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu held that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka failed to prove their allegations against the respondents.

Birnin-Kudu said the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act .

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Ododo, the candidate of the APC as the winner of the Kogi governorship election held on November 11, 2023.

Ododo polled 446,237 votes to defeat Ajaka, who came second with 259,052 votes, and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 46,362 votes.

Ododo, a former Auditor General of Kogi State and an ally of the immediate-past governor, Yahaya Bello, was sworn in on January 27, 2024.