On Thursday, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal upheld the election of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress as the governor of Kogi.

The three-member panel of justices, in a judgment, agreed with the election tribunal that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, failed to prove all the allegations in their petition beyond reasonable doubt.

The appellate court held that the petitioners’ witnesses were incompetent because their statements did not accompany the petition in line with electoral laws.

The appellate court also held that the alleged certificate forgery against Ododo should have commenced at the federal high court, being a pre-election matter.

Subsequently, the appellate court held that the appellants could not prove their case “beyond reasonable doubt,” thereby upholding Mr Ododo’s election.

The SDP and Mr Ajaka had, in the petition, sued INEC, Mr Ododo and the APC as first to third respondents, respectively.

(NAN)