Yahaya Bello Cheers As Supreme Court Takes Decision on Successor, Usman Ododo

In a decisive ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier upheld Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the legitimate winner of the November 11, 2023, Kogi State governorship election and undoubtedly bring a cheer from the camp of his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello

The Suprme Court court dismissed the appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka, challenging the declaration of Usman Ododo as the winner of the November election. The Supreme Court panel ruled that Ajaka’s appeal lacked merit, agreeing with the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal that found Ajaka’s case to be unsubstantiated.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal had previously resolved all issues raised by Ajaka in favor of Ododo and the APC. The appellate court concluded that Ajaka failed to provide substantial evidence to support his allegations of over-voting, certificate forgery, and other claims against Ododo and the APC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Usman Ododo as the winner of the Kogi State governorship election, with Ododo securing 446,237 votes. Ajaka, his closest rival, garnered 259,052 votes, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came in third with 46,362 votes.

Dissatisfied with the election outcome, Ajaka had petitioned the election tribunal, seeking to overturn Ododo’s victory and calling for a fresh election in five local government areas. However, the tribunal dismissed his petition, a decision that has now been upheld by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

With this Supreme Court decision, Usman Odod and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello may well sit comfortably knowing that the political direction of the state in the next three years will be shaped by the same camp that has pulled the strings in the last eight years.
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