By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has adjourned the petition filed by Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka until May 13 for adoption of final written addresses.

Ajaka is challenging the election victory of Gov. Usman Ododo of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three-member panel of justices, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, fixed the date after the APC, the 3^rd respondent, closed its case on Thursday in defence of Gov. Ododo’s victory.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and Ododo had, earlier, closed their defence in the petition jointly filed by SDP and Ajaka (the petitioners).

The petitioners are challenging Ododo’s victory in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi.

In the petition, INEC, Ododo and APC are listed as 1^st to 3^rd respondents respectively.

SDP and Ajaka, through their lawyers led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, closed their case on April 5 after calling 25 witnesses against their initial plan of calling 400 witnesses.

Also, INEC, on April 16, closed its case in defence of Ododo’s victory at the poll.

The commission’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku, who held the brief of Kanu Agabi, SAN, said after tendering the electoral documents against the SDP’s petition, they did not intend to call any witness having assessed the case of the petitioners.

The tribunal had, earlier, adjourned the petitions of Action Alliance (AA) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) against the INEC’s declaration of Ododo as validly elected governor of Kogi in the governorship poll, for adoption of final written addresses.

It would be recalled that SDP, AA, PRP and Action Peoples Party (APP) filed separate petitions against Ododo’s victory.

However, the tribunal, on Feb. 20, struck out APP’s petition following its withdrawal by counsel for the party, Daniel Edeachi.

The APP had filed the petition on Dec. 1, 2023, before the tribunal.

However, in its motion on notice dated and filed on Feb. 15, the party gave eight-ground of argument for the withdrawal.

APP said though it filed the petition to challenge Ododo’s victory, the party said upon the re-evaluation of the grounds and facts of the petition, it was not reasonably convinced about the sustainability of the grounds of the petition as constituted before the tribunal.

According to the party, the withdrawal of the petition is based on the perceived unsustainability of the grounds of the petition and to avoid overburdening the tribunal with numerous petitions. (NAN)

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