Kogi Poll: Ajaka Alleges Rigging, Decries INEC’s Role In Ododo’s Victory

The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Kogi State governorship election held on November 11, 2023, Murtala Ajaka, has raised serious allegations of election rigging in favor of Usman Ododo from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on Channels Television’s on Sunday night, Ajaka expressed his frustration with the electoral process and questioned the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ajaka asserted that contesting the election outcome in court would be futile, as he believes INEC would defend the results as a witness. He emphasized his disappointment, stating, “If the INEC chairman allows this to stand, they are looking for trouble in Nigeria.” According to Ajaka, despite assurances of transparency, he accused INEC of allowing the manipulation of results. INEC had declared Ododo as the winner of the highly contested poll, securing 446,237 votes against Ajaka’s 259,052 votes and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 46,362 votes. Ajaka alleged that figures were inflated in favor of the APC candidate, particularly pointing to discrepancies in Okene Local Government, where the turnout purportedly exceeded the number recorded on the Biometric Verification and Authentication System (BVAS). “In Okene Local Government, they turned out over 130,000 votes. Haba! And INEC accepted that result, and what is on the BVAS is less than 30,000,” Ajaka claimed. He called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of INEC officials in Kogi State and warned of potential consequences, stating, “If they allow this to stand, I doubt if there will be an election in 2027. Because people will go into that election armed, and I fear Somalia will be a child’s play.” In a surprising twist, Ajaka admitted that had they anticipated a similar outcome, they might have considered playing along with the alleged irregularities by inflating results from his area.

Tribunal: Atiku tenders statisticians’ reports against Tinubu

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Wednesday admitted as exhibits, three sets of reports prepared by a group of Statisticians on the electoral forms used during the last presidential election. Atiku’s Subpoened witness, PW21, a renowned Statistician, Samuel Oduntan made these reports available during his evidence-in-chief led by counsel to Atiku, Eyitayo Jegede SAN. Inspite of objections by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC against the testimony of the witness, the Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani admitted the three reports as exhibits. At Wednesday’s proceedings, former NBA President, Abubakar Mahmud SAN, Wole Olanipekun SAN and Lateef Fagbemi SAN conducted the case of INEC, Tinubu and APC respectfully. Besides opposing the admission of the documents, the three respondents also kicked against the bid to consider the reports as being read in the open court. Meanwhile, Justice Tsammani has fixed June 15 for further hearing of the petition especially the cross examination of the witness