Election Tribunal: ‘Affidavit Presented by Governor Ododo is Fake’ FCT High Court Testifies

There is Jubilation among members of the Social Democratic Party and supporters of its governorship candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, at the election petition tribunal, as the representative of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court testified that Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s affidavit was fraudulent and not issued by the court.

The dispute arose when Ajaka challenged Ododo’s victory in the November 11, 2023 Kogi election, alleging certificate forgery. Specifically, Ajaka contested the authenticity of Ododo’s age declaration, claiming it was forged as it bore a date issued on a non-working day, Saturday, August 2, 2003.

The revelation came to light during the tribunal’s proceedings, where a witness from the FCT High Court, identified as Danmusa Williams, confirmed the dubious nature of the certificate. Williams, a civil servant residing in Nyanya, Abuja, and serving as the Commissioner for Oath, attested that the affidavit presented by Ododo was indeed false.

During cross-examination, the witness affirmed the discrepancies in the affidavit, notably the date falling on a Sunday, prompting him to report the matter to the court registrar. However, he clarified that no formal complaint was lodged with the police or the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the forgery.

Additionally, the tribunal heard reports of irregularities detected by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in Okene, Okehi, Adavi, Ajaokuta, and Lokoja, further adding to the complexity of the electoral dispute.

With these revelations, the credibility of Governor Ododo’s election victory comes under intense scrutiny, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing legal battle over the Kogi governorship election outcome.