ABUJA – The Supreme Court on Monday, reserved judgments on two different appeals challenging the electoral victories of Governors Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.
The appeal in respect of Kogi state governorship election was filed by the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last gubernatorial election in Kogi State, Yakubu Muritala Ajaka, seeking nullification of the victory of Ahmed Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election held on November 11, 2023.
Similarly, former Governor Timipriye Sylva is asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the declaration of Diri by INEC as winner of the gubernatorial election held in Bayelsa State.
Recall that both the Bayelsa, and Kogi Governoship Election Petition Tribunals and the Court of Appeal had in separate judgments dismissed Ajaka and Timipriye’s petitions for want of merit and being incompetent.
Specifically, Ajaka in the appeal marked: SC/CV/654/2024, is praying the Supreme Court to set aside the concurrent decisions of the Court of Appeal and Tribunal.
Pius Akubo SAN, identified his briefs, adopted them on behalf of the appellant (Ajaka), and urged the apex court to allow the appeal, set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and declare Ajaka as the duly elected governor of Kogi State.
On their part, lawyers to the respondents; Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joseph Daudu (SAN) for Ododo and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the APC adopted their briefs and prayed the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the electoral victory of the governor.
Justice Mohammed Garba, who presided over the five-member panel, said judgment date would be communicated to all parties.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal brought against his election by Sylva.
Diri argued through his counsel that Sylva’s appeal was legally bad beyond redemption as no witness or documents supported the requests he made at the court.
Diri, represented by Chris Uche SAN maintained that the appeal was devoided of merit and should be dismissed in its entirety.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC represented by Charles Edoshomwan, Peoples Democratic Party PDP represented by Tayo Oyetibo SAN, all supported the plea for the dismissal of the appeal for want of merit.
However, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, who announced appearance for Sylva, asked the panel to set aside the judgments of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition and the Court of Appeal which had earlier dismissed his petition.
After taking arguments from the lawyers, Justice Garba Lawal reserved judgment.
