… Rejects SDP Candidate’s Request for Full Panel
Joy Yesufu, Abuja
The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajaka, in the Kogi Governorhip election petition.
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the case, and will communicate the date for delivering its final judgment to the parties.
Ajaka is challenging the verdicts of the tribunal and the Appeal Court which affirmed the electoral victory of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress.
However the apex court dismissed an application filed by SDP candidate for a constitution of a full panel of the court for the case in the appeal marked SC/CV/654/2024.
During the hearing on Monday, Ajaka’s counsel, Pius Akubo (SAN), requested that the court awaits the outcome of a request made to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) for the constitution of a full panel to hear specific issues raised in their appeal.
The appellant sought the court’s reconsideration of certain precedents in determining their case.
However, the respondents’ lawyers, including Kanu Agabi (SAN) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joseph Daudu (SAN) for Ododo, and Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the APC, argued that the application was unnecessary.
They urged the court to proceed with the hearing as constituted, without awaiting the full panel.
Presiding over a five-member panel, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba ruled that the request for a full panel was not essential, as the issue in question represented only a fraction of the appeal.
He stated that the current panel was competent to hear and determine the entire appeal.
Following the ruling, Akubo proceeded to identify and adopt his briefs, urging the court to allow the appeal and declare Ajaka as the duly elected governor of Kogi State.
In response, the respondents’ counsel adopted their briefs and requested that the appeal be dismissed, affirming the lower court’s judgment.
