Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State expressed his profound gratitude and relief following the Appeal Court’s affirmation of his election victory. The court upheld the May 27 decision of the Kogi State governorship election petition tribunal, confirming Ododo as the rightful winner of the November 2023 election.
In a statement released by Ismail Isah, Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Ododo thanked the people of Kogi State for their unwavering support throughout the election process and the subsequent legal challenges. He praised the judiciary for its swift and impartial handling of the appeal, emphasizing that the judgment validated the people’s mandate.
“I give thanks to God for seeing us through this phase of the court processes and I thank the people of Kogi State for uniting behind our administration and the steps we are taking to serve our people to the best of our ability,” Ododo stated. He added that the court’s decision reaffirms the November 2023 Governorship election as free, fair, peaceful, and credible.
Appeal Court Decision Details
On Thursday, the Appeal Court upheld the Kogi State governorship election petition tribunal’s decision, which declared Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State. Ododo secured 446,237 votes, representing the majority of lawful votes cast in the November 11, 2023, election.
The court dismissed all grounds of appeals filed by candidates from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Action Alliance (AA), and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), labeling them as incompetent and lacking in merit. This ruling brings a definitive end to the election disputes, cementing Ododo’s victory and confirming his mandate.
Governor Ododo called on opposition politicians in Kogi State to join hands in advancing the state’s development, urging unity and collaboration beyond political divides. He stressed that the court’s ruling should lay to rest any lingering disputes over the election results, allowing all parties to focus on the progress and development of Kogi State.
Commitment to Development and Acknowledgment of Judiciary
Ododo reiterated his administration’s commitment to serving the people of Kogi State with fairness and inclusivity, aiming to maintain peace and foster unity. He expressed his administration’s determination to become a symbol of peace and unity in the state, working towards the best interests of all its citizens.
The governor also expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for ensuring that the judiciary remains independent and transparent. Ododo highlighted the judiciary’s role as the last hope for the common man in Nigeria, applauding the courts for their impartiality and dedication to justice.
“I thank the judiciary for staying true to its independence with this judgment of the Appeal Court that has reaffirmed the earlier decision of the Tribunal. This is a clear testament that the mandate freely given to us by the people of Kogi State was done in the best interest of our state,” Ododo said.
The governor’s statement concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders in Kogi State to come together in unity. He emphasized that the state’s development should be a collective effort, transcending political differences and focusing on the welfare and progress of the people.
Source: Punch
