The Supreme Court has dismissed the application filed by Yakubu Muritala Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, regarding the recent Kogi State gubernatorial election.
Ajaka had petitioned the court under appeal SC/CV/654/2024, requesting that the Supreme Court delay its decision until a full panel could hear a specific issue raised in his appeal. He sought to overturn the decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the Election Tribunal, which had upheld Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the November 11, 2024 election.
During the hearing on Monday, Ododo’s counsel, Pius Akubo, stated that Ajaka was asking the court to reconsider its previous decisions on certain aspects of the appeal. Akubo argued that the appellants were seeking a departure from prior rulings.
However, the counsels representing the respondents—including Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joseph Daudu (SAN) for Ododo, and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the APC—opposed the application, labeling it unnecessary. They urged the court to proceed with the appeal as it stands.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, leading the five-member panel, ruled that the issue for which Ajaka sought a full panel was a minor part of the broader appeal. He affirmed that the current court composition was sufficient to hear and resolve the case. Justice Garba then directed Akubo to continue with the hearing of the appeal.
Following submissions from Agabi, Daudu, and Ukala, who all requested the dismissal of the appeal, Justice Garba announced that the judgment would be adjourned to a later date, which would be communicated to the involved parties.
