By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Kogi State was thrown into jubilation, today, following the affirmation of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as winner of the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election by the Supreme Court.
Thousands of Ododo’s supporters, among them family, friends, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), market men and women, youths, and commercial motorcyclist, poured into streets across the state in celebration of the apex court’s final verdict on the appeal brought by Alhaji Murtala Ajaka, former candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the poll.
In the ruling, five justices of the Supreme Court, had dismissed Ajaka’s appeal seeking to reverse the judgment of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal which declared Ododo lawful winner of the November 11 governorship election.
In the state capital, Lokoja, the pronouncement sparked off spontaneous celebrations in forms of victory songs and dance across streets. Others moved about in convoys of vehicles with the All Progressives Congress Peoples Democratic Party (APC) flag blaring car horns. At Obasanjo round-about and Ganaja junction in Lokoja, supporters celebrating the judgment said Ododo truly won the poll.
Market women and men who gathered at Lokoja local government APC secretariat dancing and singing songs of happiness and joy said the Supreme Court affirmation of Ododo’s victory was a reflection of the wishes of majority of voters. Others said though they knew Ododo won, they were however apprehensive of what they called the deployment of legal technicalities that could give Murtala Ajaka victory.
A chieftain of the APC who never wanted his name in print, said Ododo has done ‘creditably well’ since his inauguration, more than his predecessor, and that it would have been unfair to the state for the apex court to sack him.
“The Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judgment have indeed restored hope to every Kogi citizens. With the conclusion of litigation, the governor will now settle down and focus on human and capital development that will add value to the state and lives of its people,” he said.
Reacting, a leader of the SDP in Lokoja local government area, Ibrahim Yakubu in a statement, said it received the verdict with equanimity and placidity.
“In a contest, someone must emerge the winner. As a democratic political body that solely believes in the rule of law, there is no way that we can fault the judgment of the Supreme Court which is the highest court in the land even though we are not happy with the judicial decision, “Yakubu said while congratulating the beneficiary of the judgment.
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