The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Muritala Yakubu Ajaka as duly elected as Governor of Kogi state.
The SDP National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
The party berated INEC over last Saturday governorship election in Kogi state, alleging rigging and monopoly across polling units.
Gabam explained that over voting also occurred in some polling units where total votes cast exceeded the count of voters in the voters’ register in the same polling unit.
“We respectfully wish to petition the Commission that the declaration by the returning officer is flawed because it was made contrary to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines, and manual for the election.
“We wish to report that it would appear that the actions and/or inactions of Professor Sani Adam, the INEC National Commissioner in Kogi State indeed compromised the election process substantially leading to irregularities and grossly perverted election outcomes.
“For instance, our polling agents and INEC accredited YlAGA observers reported that pre-filled and signed Form EC8A meant for Kogi Central election were found while results were being collated, and INEC ad hoc staff, a serving NYSC member, was caught with already prepared results sheets and N1.0 million (One million Naira) on election day.
“We note that the Commission appears to be aware of some improper actions of its members leading to irregularities and unlawful voting and/or activities at the Polling Units and has consequently acted, albeit in an incomplete and inadequate manner, by canceling the elections at some of these Units,” he said.
He called on the INEC Chairman to review the election in accordance with Section 65(1) of the electoral Act, 2022.
In his remarks, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the recent Kogi state off-season election, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, assured his supporters that he would head to court.
He said, “Like I spoke earlier, because of the uncertainty in the political circles, I said I won’t go to court but also the reaction from our people and our party, we have decided to go to court.
“We have compiled our evidence and in less than ten days time we will meet in court, because we won the elections, the people of Kogi state voted for us but of course the Federal commissioner for INEC bundled the election in favour of Yahaya Bello’s candidate, we have all the evidence and we are going to court”.
