Gov. Ododo dedicates tribunal victory to Kogi people, extends hand of fellowship to opposition
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has dedicated his victory at the tribunal to the people of the state, describing it as a call for more dedication to the service of the people.
The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal stiting in Abuja on Monday upheld the election of Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of the state.
Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, quoted Ododo in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Monday, as saying the decision of the tribunal that upheld his election further affirmed his conviction that God alone gives power to whomever.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring the independence of the judiciary, Ododo stressed that the courts remain the hope of the common man and bastion of justice, equity and fairness that sustain democracy any where in the world.
Ododo called on opposition parties in the state to join hands with him to ensure rapid development of the state in the interest of unity and peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.
Ododo was elected the fifth governor of Kogi having scored 446, 237 votes to defeat his closest challenger Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who scored 259, 052 votes in the Nov. 11, 2023 Governorship election.
The SDP candidate, Muritala Ajaka and candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) Olayinka Braimoh and Abdullahi Yunusa of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) subsequently challenged the election of Governor Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in separate petitions.
The tribunal, however, dismissed the petitions for lack of merit.