Murtala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election, has expressed strong confidence in a favorable outcome as the Supreme Court reserves its judgment on the legal battle for the state’s governorship seat. The case involves a prolonged legal contest between Ajaka and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to reserve judgment, Ajaka spoke to journalists, emphasizing the strength of his case and his belief that justice would ultimately prevail. He underscored the importance of a fair and transparent election process, which he argued was not observed in the gubernatorial election.
Ajaka stated, “We have presented a strong case before the Supreme Court, and we are confident that justice will prevail. The people of Kogi State deserve a leader who is chosen through a free, fair, and transparent election, and we believe that our case will vindicate the will of the people.”
He also called on his supporters to remain calm and patient as the Supreme Court deliberates on the matter, stressing the importance of upholding democratic values and ensuring that future elections are conducted with integrity.
The legal battle began after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ododo the winner of the gubernatorial election. Ajaka challenged the results, alleging that the APC had engaged in electoral fraud, including irregularities in the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and discrepancies in the final vote tally.
Ajaka remains hopeful that the Supreme Court’s ruling will reflect the will of the people and uphold the principles of fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s democratic process.
