The CENI closes the defense of the SDP and the petition of Ajaka against the election of Ododo

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), yesterday, farm It is defense In THE petition deposit by THE Social Democratic To party (SDP) And It is candidate, Murtala Ajaka, against THE election of Governor Ousman Ododo of Kogi Status.

CENI Advice, Uchenna Njoku, do This known has THE Kogi State Governance Election Petition Court session In Abuja shortly After he tendered more documents against THE SDP petition. Njoku said THE three-membered sign of the judges, directed by Justice Teen Birnin-Koudou, that CENI did not intend has call any of them witness, having evaluated THE case of THE petitioners. He said: "My lords, THE 1st Respondent, having revised THE State of pleadings In This petition, THE evidence aroused Since of the petitioners witnesses below cross-examination, And THE documents SO far tendered In evidence by THE 1st Respondent, considered he reasonable not has further belabour THE court with THE call of witnesses. "In THE circumstances, THE 1st Respondent, CENI, applies has close It is case." Justice Birnin-Koudou, WHO declared THE Commissions case farm, postponed THE matter until April 16 For Ododo (2nd Respondent) has open It is defense. He would be be recalled that CENI led THE Kogi governorship election on November 11, 2023. However, THE SDP And It is governorship candidate In THE survey are difficult THE statement of Ododo of THE All Progressives Congress (APC) as THE winner of THE survey. In THE petition, CENI, Ododo And APC are listed as 1st has 3rd respondents, respectively. Earlier In THE course of yesterday's procedure, Njoku said THE court that CENI brought THE Bimodal Elector Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used For THE election as order by THE court on November 25, 2023.

Njoku Also tendered three sets of documents, which included A letter, date FEBRUARY 22, sender THE BVAS, A document containing THE summary of THE BVAS devices And another document containing THE BVAS' identification Numbers. When Njoku applied has tender THE documents, Ibrahim Sannie Mohammed, WHO appeared For Ododo, And Ayo Asala, WHO appeared For THE APC, did not object has THE admissibility of THE exhibitions. THE lawyer at SDP And Ajaka, Pie Akubo, objected because he was only documents that were tendered without THE real exhibitions. Decision, THE of the court President, Justice Birnin-Koudou, admitted THE documents as exhibitions And brand them therefore. THE BVAS tendered were about Seven local advice, including Okehi, Ajaokuta, Basa, Ogori-Magongo, Lokoja, Adavi And Okène.