Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State, has applauded the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s decision to uphold his election as the state’s legitimately elected governor.
Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, issued a statement on Tuesday.
In a conversation with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Ododo said, “The tribunal’s victory further affirmed our conviction that God alone gives power to whomever He wishes at any point in life, adding that the ruling of the tribunal is a call for more dedication to the service of the people of Kogi State.”
While praising President Bola Tinubu for safeguarding the judiciary’s independence, Ododo emphasised that the courts continue to be the hope of the ordinary man and the stronghold of justice, equity, and fairness that underpins democracy around the world.
“We call on opposition parties in the state to join hands with us to ensure rapid development of the state in the interest of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.”
Ododo was elected the fifth Executive Governor of Kogi State with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest competitor, Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, who received 259,052 votes in the November 11, 2023 Governorship election.
Muritala Ajaka, the SDP candidate, and Action Alliance candidates Olayinka Braimoh and Abdullahi Yunusa of the People’s Redemption Party filed separate petitions challenging Ododo’s election to the All Progressives Congress.
Following months of legal warfare, the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which met in Abuja on Monday, confirmed Governor Usman Ododo of the APC as the legitimately elected governor of Kogi State, dismissing the petitions for lack of merit.
