One of the contenders for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 14, 2023 primary poll in Kogi State, Senator Smart Adeyemi has filed appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the emergence of Alhaji Usman Ododo as the candidate of the party for the November 11 governorship election in the state.
Adeyemi is challenging the primary election that ushered in Ododo, arguing that it was fraught with irregularities and evidence of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He argued that the election only held in 11 wards, all in one local government, (Kogi/Kotonkarfe) of the 239 wards across the state.
He contended, “What happened to the 228 remaining wards? At what level were the results announced and was the entire process, starting from the cast of votes, announcement and collation of results done in accordance with the electoral act 2022 (as amended), which stipulated that results should be announced at each polling units at every ward and collated at the local government headquarters?”
The aspirant is also asking the Supreme Court justices to determine, among others, whether, in accordance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended), results of a supposed statewide primary election but declared solely based on election held in 11 wards of a local government (Kogi/Kotonkarfe) of 239 wards, is sufficient to nominate a governorship candidate by a party, exclusive of 228 electoral wards.
He is equally praying the Supreme Court to cancel the April 14 direct primary election of the APC in Kogi State and order a fresh election to be conducted either by direct, indirect or consensus mode, based on superior argument, for the nomination of a candidate lawfully elected by the majority of the members of the APC in Kogi State.
