In the wake of the Kogi Off-Cycle Governorship Election, the United Front for Democracy (UFD) strongly advises the Election Petition Tribunal to scrutinize petitions meticulously, discouraging any backdoor entries.
Yetunde Shaibu, the convener of UFD, raised concerns during a press conference in Lokoja, asserting that credible intelligence indicates a delay in filing the petition by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the declared winner, Alhaji Usman Ododo.
Amidst the Kogi 2023 election controversy, UFD calls on the Election Petition Tribunal for transparency.
Shaibu, citing Section 134 of the Electoral Act, emphasized the importance of adhering to the legally stipulated timeframe for filing electoral petitions.
According to her, the SDP failed to file within the prescribed period, raising questions about the competence of their petition.
The PDP and ADC, opting not to challenge the results, avoided potential embarrassment in searching for evidence at the tribunal.
UFD, as a civil society organization, expresses disappointment in the SDP’s approach, urging the panel to assess the validity of petitions filed beyond the timeframe.
Shaibu emphasized the necessity of proper challenges that align with administrative, judicial, and legal procedures to prevent compromising the democratic process.
UFD vehemently condemned the recent attack on the residence of the INEC Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner, considering it a dangerous trend.
Shaibu stressed the importance of safeguarding democracy, asserting that those overseeing elections should be allowed to fulfill their duties without harassment or intimidation.
Farouk Adejor-Audu, the Spokesman of SDP Governorship Campaign Council, refuted UFD’s claims, asserting that the party filed its petition well before the expiration date.
He accused the APC of attempting to tarnish the Tribunal’s image and emphasized the SDP’s commitment to due process.
