In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State.
In a decisive judgment delivered on Friday, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Justice Garba Lawal, delivering the lead judgment, ruled that the appeal lacked merit and constituted a gross abuse of court process.
The apex court also dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of Action Alliance, Olayika Braimoh.
Regarding the respondent’s appeal challenging the date of filing of the appellant’s notice of appeal on 26/07/2024, the court held that the appellant cannot rely on the Interpretation Act to justify filing out of time.
Consequently, the court found the appeal to be incompetent and dismissed it. Additionally, the court imposed a fine of N5,000,000 in favor of the respondent.
The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision upheld the earlier rulings of both the Court of Appeal and the Election Petition Tribunal.
