The Supreme Court has turned down the appeal filed by Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Yakubu Muritala Ajaka, concerning the recent Kogi State gubernatorial election.
Ajaka had sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to delay its judgment while awaiting the outcome of his request for a full panel to review a specific issue raised in his appeal.
Ajaka’s appeal, marked SC/CV/654/2024, aimed to overturn the rulings of both the Election Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which confirmed Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the November 11, 2024 election.
During Monday’s hearing, Pius Akubo, representing Ajaka, stated that Ododo had expressed his concerns to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) regarding the appeal.
Akubo requested the Supreme Court to revisit its prior rulings, especially concerning specific paragraphs in the appellant’s brief.
However, the legal representatives for the respondents, including Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joseph Daudu (SAN) for Ododo, and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the APC, argued that the application was unnecessary and urged the court to proceed with the appeal as constituted.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, leading the five-member panel, ruled that the issue for which Ajaka sought a full panel was only a part of the overall appeal. He affirmed that the current panel was competent to hear and decide the case.
Justice Garba then instructed Akubo to continue with the hearing, while the respondents submitted their briefs, requesting the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the lower court’s judgment.
Justice Garba adjourned the case, with the judgment date to be announced later.
