Shehu Gabam, the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has sworn to overturn the ruling of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld Usman Ododo’s election as the state’s legitimate governor.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Gabam claimed that the tribunal’s decision, which was already known to the public when it was rendered, was an injustice intended to deny the Kogi State people their right to vote.
He said, “One of the reasons the Tribunal dismissed our petition was our purported inability to provide evidence of violations that happened on the BVAS machines, which we were unable to access.”
“Sahara Reporters published the ruling thirty minutes after it was delivered. How did they obtain the verdict?
In order to recover its mandate from the governor Ododo administration, which is led by the All Progressives Congress, Gabam emphasized that the party was ready to go all the way to the Supreme Court.
On May 27, the Abuja-based tribunal affirmed Ododo’s election victory from November 11, 2023, stating that the SDP’s challenge lacked substance and was thus dismissed.
The three-member justice panel, presided over by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, rendered a decision in the case, finding that the SDP and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, had not produced sufficient evidence to support their claims of excessive voting and noncompliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The panel determined unanimously that all of the witness testimony presented to it was inconsistent and incompetent.
However, the SDP candidate stated that for him, the battle is far from over and he is prepared to fight to the very end.
Ajaka claimed in a statement that his opponent had just won the battle but would not win the war, following the tribunal’s decision last Monday.
“I am happy to report that, notwithstanding the tribunal’s decision, our team of talented attorneys did a fantastic job establishing the case of over voting during the election. Their commitment, knowledge, and steadfastness in defending democratic values have made a lasting impression on our case as we move forward.
“Our lawyers demonstrated the greatest caliber of professionalism and perseverance throughout the entire procedure. They carefully collected evidence, examined data, and made a strong case to the tribunal, but even though they agreed to an excessive number of votes, the tribunal rejected our argument. These attorneys did not let us down. By the time the petition expires, we have every reason to believe they will be exonerated. His statement said, in part, “I can assure you that this judgment will not stand the test of time.”
