Kogi gov celebrates Supreme Court victory, calls for unity

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo has applauded the decision of the Supreme Court that affirmed his victory as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Ismail lsah.

The statement said, “Governor Ododo praised the judiciary for rising to the occasion and for asserting its position as the last hope of the common man despite several threats and blackmail by those who were bent on upturning the course of justice and the will of the majority of the people of Kogi State.”

While commending President Bola Tinubu for the support he has enjoyed from him, the Kogi State Governor called on the leadership of opposition parties in the state to join hands with his administration in its efforts to bring about more dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

Ododo called on his supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress in the state to remain magnanimous as they go about celebrating the victory of the party following the Supreme Court judgement.

The Governor who described his victory as an act of God noted that the November 11 governorship election was a contestation by people from the same family to hold power on behalf of the people of the state.

He said, “I feel elated about our victory and how the judiciary held on to the point of law and stayed away from emotional blackmail and threats to ensure justice is served.

“The judiciary was threatened and blackmailed but they remained resolute and ignored emotions.

“The victory is not all about me. It is about the people who trouped out on November 11, 2023, to vote for us and we won the election resoundingly. The election was very transparent, fair, credible and it was the most peaceful election in the history of our state. 

“I call on our brothers in the opposition parties to come and join me to move Kogi State forward. 

“It is now time for all of us to come together and discuss the affairs of our state towards achieving the greatness that we all wish for Kogi State.”

He promised to continue to serve the people with dedication and the fear of God, assuring that members of his team will redouble efforts to bring forth creativity in delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the victory of Ododo of the All Progressives Congress in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election held in Kogi State. 

A five-member panel of the apex court, in a landmark judgment, held that the appeal by the Social Democratic Party and its candidate, Muritala Ajaka was without merit and was therefore dismissed.