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.

How Tribunal Upheld Election Of ‘Happy Hour’ Governor, Umo Eno

There was ‘Happy Hour’ jubilation in Uyo after the Akwa Ibom Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal at the weekend upheld the election of Governor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The tribunal, in a two and a half hours’ judgment, also dismissed the petition of Sen. Bassey Akpan of Young Progressives Party (YPP) who had challenged the election of the g.overnor. Delivering the unanimous judgment on the matter, the tribunal held that Eno did not present forged WAEC certificates j as claimed by the petitioner, describing Akpan’s petition as ‘frivolous’. The panel’s judgment, which was read by its Chairman, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, held that a WAEC official, who was summoned via a subpoena as PW10, authenticated the governor’s certificates. “WAEC did not disclaim the 1981 and 1983 WAEC certificates. Without a disclaimer by the issuing authority, the certificates remained valid. “There is no legislation in Nigeria that a person’s name should be arranged in a particular order on a document. “In the absence of any other person holding claims to the said 1981 and 1983 WAEC certificates, I hold that the certificates belong to the 2nd Respondent.” “Even the 1st Petitioner himself told the court that he was a victim of the same issue as three documents bearing his name tendered as exhibits before the tribunal carried different arrangements of his name, Sen. Akpan, Sen. Akpan Bassey Albert and Bassey Albert Akpan. This is a case of a pot calling a kettle black,” the tribunal ruled. The tribunal also upheld the preliminary objections bothering on jurisdiction and non-qualification of the 2nd Respondent, and declared that Eno was eminently qualified. It further ruled that an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court in the case filed against Eno by Mr Akan Ekpe Okon was binding to all human beings in the world, including the petitioners. Adeleye fumed at the petitioners for abuse of judicial process in resurrecting the matter which had already been buried by the Apex Court. The tribunal also decided that the petitioners lacked the locus to challenge how the 3rd Respondent (PDP) conducted its primaries to produce a candidate. In striking out the accusations of electoral infractions leveled against Mr Iniobong Robson, the tribunal ruled that the said person was not joined as a respondent in the case by the petitioners and any decision taken under such circumstances would amount to lack of a fair hearing. On another WAEC certificate of 1998, which the petitioners claimed belonged to the 2nd Respondent, the tribunal upheld the objection of the 2nd respondent. The panel ruled that it was a fresh allegation that was not in the main petition, adding that the time for amendment of petitions had long elapsed, hence the petitioners were merely attempting to spring surprises, contrary to the provisions of the law. The tribunal also dismissed the testimonies of APC wards and local governments collation agents who were paraded as witnesses of the petitioners, stressing that their testimonies were speculative. According to the tribunal, a particular witness, PW16, one Daniel Akpan, who was presented by Sen. Akpan as a staff of the University of Uyo, is in fact a liar. It explained that the witness claimed to have been admitted as a student of Quantity Survey of the University of Uyo in 1998 and graduated in 2021, spending over 22 years for the course. The panel also wondered how a senior staff of a university could not know the meaning of CONTISS, could not remember his telephone number, did know his gross salary and take-home pay and came to the court with mask and fez cap, an indication that he was hiding something. Accordingly, the tribunal discountenanced the evidence of the said Daniel Akpan, described him an impostor and dismissed all the exhibits he tendered. On the report of a “so-called” statistician (PW17) relied upon by petitioners, the tribunal ruled that the report was of no probative value because it was founded on reports of petitioners’ unit agents, who were never called to give evidence on their reports. The tribunal also held that the statistician, who confessed to having not been involved in any electoral matter before, also admitted being well paid by the petitioners and as such had obligations to please his clients. The Election Panel further held that the 2nd Respondent’s Witness, RW1, Uwem Okoko, tendered all the local government results of the election and none was objected to by the petitioner, hence was the reason for its decision to uphold same. Reacting to the judgment, the Counsel to the first, second and third respondents, Paul Bassey SAN; Uwemedimo Nwoko SAN; and Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, respectively, expressed satisfaction with the verdict. They called on all parties to support Eno to move the state forward. The petitioners’ counsel, Mr Tunde Olaola, however, said that the tribunal was not the final bus stop, so there was room for his client to appeal the judgment. 

Tribunal Victory: Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour Should Join Me In Building Lagos -Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement as a victory for all Lagosians, even as he called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, to join hands with him in building Lagos. Sanwo-Olu said this while addressing newsmen at the State House in Ikeja, after the11-hour judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Arum Ashom at the Roseline Omotosho Court, Ikeja, Lagos. The panel in its unanimous decision, dismissed the two petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, his Labour Party counterpart. The governor lauded the judges for doing a good job, adding that they gave a well thought out and detailed judgment. Sanwo-Olu said the verdict was a call to greater service while assuring that his government would continue to work harder to deliver dividends of democracy to the people “It was a long, tough process but we are grateful that the voice of people of Lagos was heard and upheld. “The deputy governor and I are very privileged and thankful to residents for standing for and by us. It is a victory for all, no winner, no loser. “It is, however, an opportunity for more work and service. Therefore, we will continue to work harder to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” he said. The governor called on other candidates to join hands together to build a Lagos of their dreams. According to him, “l extend, again, an olive branch to my fellow contestants to join us in building the Lagos of our dreams. “If they have the passion to serve, we can work together because there is room for everyone to contribute meaningfully to the Lagos we all desire to see.” Reacting, Mr Olagbade Benson, Senior counsel to the Labour Party (LP) candidate, said the tribunal in his wisdom had delivered the judgment to the best of their knowledge. He advised all members of the party to stay calm and respect the rule of law. “The tribunal has done their part and we cannot ask for more. Therefore, we encourage every member of the Labour Party and all OBIdients to stay calm and obey the rule of law.” The tribunal chairman, Justice Arum Ashom in his lead Judgment had dismissed the petition filed by Rhodes-Vivour on grounds that it lacked merit. On the oath of allegiance to the United States of America by the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the tribunal held that being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, his oath of allegiance to United State does not prevent him from contesting election. The tribunal, therefore, affirmed the declaration of INEC of the election of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as the governor and deputy governor duly elected. On his part, reacting to the judgment, Mr Austin Akpomreta, defense counsel to the PDP governorship candidate explained that the next line of action would be taken after reviewing the judgment with his client. The election petition tribunal had also declared as dead on arrival, a petition of Adediran against Sanwo-Olu’s election. The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit. Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by the APC and, therefore, was not qualified for the election. However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.