The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the election of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship polls in the State.
The three-member tribunal led by Ado Birnin-Kudu held that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, failed to prove their allegations that the election was marred by irregularities, manipulations and non-compliance with relevant laws.
In the lead judgment, Birnin-Kudu said the election “was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act “.
The state Social Democratic party (SDP) and its candidate Murtala Yakubu Ajaka had challenged the victory of Ododo at the tribunal, joning the APC and the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.
Ajaka and SDP also accused Ododo of certificate forgery.
The tribunal said specifically the petitioner did not proof the allegations of forgery saying the original from which it forged was not presented by the petitioner.
It said certificate is a pre-election matter, and therefor resolved he case in favour of the 2nd respondent
The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Ado Birnin kudu sitting at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja also struck out the case against Ajaka for not filing the petition on time.
The tribunal also said the allegation of over voting in Kogi Central as alleged by the petitioners was proved beyond reasonable doubt.
