More facts have continued to emerge on the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal judgment that dismissed the petitions of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State.
The three-member panel of justices, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, described ninety six percent of the witnesses presented by, SDP to prove that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo did not win the election, as incompetent, inconsistent and unreliable.
The Tribunal which dismissed Ajaka’s petition and confirming the validity of the election of Ododo, held that the poll was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, twenty-twenty two.
In the unanimous decision, the judges held that the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of over-voting and non-compliance, saying all the witnesses evidence filed before it were incompetent and full of inconsistencies.
It agreed with the submissions of the respondents that the allegations of forgery raised in the petition were pre-election matters, which ought to have been raised fourteen days after the documents were submitted to INEC.
The tribunal also held that Prosecution Witness one, who was an INEC staff, was not the maker of the documents tendered, hence the documents were inadmissible.
On whether the petition was filed out of time, the tribunal chairman ruled that the suit was validly presented and filed within time.
Similarly, the Tribunal said that the petitioners failed to prove the allegation of forgery against Ododo as they failed to show that the Governor submitted the documents to INEC, adding that it was a pre-election matter.
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