Lawyers and Activists from Kogi State have raised an alarm over what they described as a clandestine move by the Social Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate in the November 11 election, Murtala Ajaka to file their petition against the outcome of the November 11 election through the backdoor and backdate same to circumvent the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The lawyers and activists, under the aegis of the United Front for Democracy, told a news conference in lokoja on Monday that they had to raise the alarm following the closure of the window allowed for the filing of electoral petition with all allegations and petition relating to the petition front-loaded, in line with Section 134 of the Electoral Act.
The Activists noted that the 21 days window elapsed at the midnight of December 3, 2023.
They further explained that, “Section 134 of the Electoral Act is very clear as to when an electoral petition can be filed.
A spokesperson for the group, Yetunde Olubunmi Shaibu, said they had credible intelligence that the SDP and it’s candidate had yet to file his petition challenging the victory of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress, 22 days after the declaration of results
They also alleged that they had been credibly briefed that the SDP and its candidate were still preparing their petition with the intention of filing same within the week and having it backdated so as to make it look like it was filed within the legally stipulated duration.
They, therefore, called on the Election Petition Tribunal for the Kogi State Governorship Poll to beam its searchlight on staff members who have been contracted to tamper with the integrity of the highly respected judiciary.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
