The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Kogi State governorship election held on November 11, 2023.
This decision came after the court dismissed an appeal by Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who had contested the election results.
A five-man panel of the Supreme Court ruled that Ajaka "did not provide sufficient evidence of significant non-compliance with the Electoral Act." This ruling highlights the critical need for substantial proof in election disputes.
The court also noted that allegations such as age falsification and certificate forgery should have been addressed at the Federal High Court, thereby clarifying jurisdictional responsibilities for specific claims.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ododo received 446,237 votes, significantly outpacing Ajaka's 259,052 votes. This substantial margin further solidified the court's decision to uphold Ododo's victory.
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