The hearing of the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, has been postponed till May 13 in order to allow for the acceptance of final written addresses by the Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which is located in Abuja.

Ajaka is contesting All Progressives Congress (APC) governor Usman Ododo’s election victory.

The date was set by the three-judge panel, which is led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, following the conclusion of the third respondent’s case, APC, on Thursday, supporting Governor Ododo’s win.

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Recall that earlier, in the combined petition brought by SDP and Ajaka as the petitioners, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and Ododo had completed their defense.

The petitioners are contesting Ododo’s win in the Kogi governorship race on November 11, 2023.

INEC, Ododo, and APC are named as the first, third, and first responders, respectively, in the petition.

Against their original plan to call 400 witnesses, SDP and Ajaka, through their lawyers, led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, ended their case on April 5.

Additionally, INEC concluded its case on April 16 in support of Ododo’s election victory.

After presenting the electoral records in opposition to the SDP’s petition, the commission’s attorney, Uchenna Njoku, who was in charge of Kanu Agabi, SAN’s brief, declared that they had evaluated the petitioners’ case and would not be calling any witnesses.

Prior to the approval of final written addresses, the tribunal had postponed the cases filed by Action Alliance (AA) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) challenging INEC’s conclusion that Ododo was a legitimately elected governor of Kogi during the governorship election.

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Recall that distinct petitions were submitted by the SDP, AA, PRP, and Action People’s Party (APP) opposing Ododo’s win.

But on February 20, the tribunal dismissed the APP’s petition after Daniel Edeachi, the party’s attorney, withdrew it.

On December 1, 2023, APP submitted the petition to the tribunal.

On February 15, the party filed a notice motion, but in that petition, it provided eight grounds for the withdrawal.

Even though APP submitted the petition to contest Ododo’s victory, it withdrew it because it felt the petition’s grounds were unsupportable and because it didn’t want to overwhelm the tribunal with too many petitions.

The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has issued a warning to his predecessors to refrain from meddling in his governance.

Governor Alia issued the warning on Friday in Makurdi at a press conference following his arrival from the United States.

He declared that he would not permit them to distract attention and damage his government.

Alia said, “I can’t allow anyone whether a former governor or civil servant. If you are a former governor and you have nothing to contribute to Benue, shut up. You had your term you went through it, allow the administration to work.

“You did your part, and If you are in the state, know exactly what you are saying. Criticisms are welcomed but verify your facts

“If you have served your tenure you cannot stay by the side and destabilize this government’, he said.

He added that the USA Peace Institute had called him and nine other governors from Northern Nigeria to discuss potential solutions to the insecurity that faces their region.

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Alia said, “10 Governors were there and a number of things were considered for implementation. Amongst them is how to get back our displaced persons home which is paramount to me.

“I have been away in the last eight days to sell the image of the state and clear it’s battered image.

“In the past, Benue wasn’t even at the national radar. It’s going to be a place where other states will come to learn, emulate and take back to their states.

“Farmers are getting back to farm in Gwer West, Gwer East, Guma and Makurdi among others are enjoying relative peace.

“Those of us at the home front, must do our best. Each person is a security personnel and it must go beyond seeing something and saying something

“Don’t let anybody buy you off to sell your people don’t let anyone cow you to sell off your land.

“Cooperate with security apparatus to give us their best. The uniform people are here with us and for us. If someone wants to use you to steal cows or to cause mischief, tell them to bring back their children o take part or to be at the front.”

In preparation for the upcoming September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chapter has revealed a campaign council comprising over 200 members.

According to reports, Tony Anenih Jr., the party’s State Organizing Secretary, revealed this information to reporters in Benin City on Thursday.

According to Anenih, the campaign structure consists of a campaign council composed of 200 distinguished party members and an advisory council, which is a management body to be led by Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State.

He continued by saying that Timothy Osadolor, the deputy national youth leader, would lead the campaign council’s youth wing, while State First Lady Mrs. Betsy Obaseki and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo would lead the women’s wing.

In his opinion, the PDP’s diverse Campaign Council members were carefully selected to support the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

He claims that the campaign framework includes the following special qualities.

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The advisory council has 7 eminent members of the state, with His Excellency, the governor, as chairman.

“The Management Committee is made up of the Director General and 13 Deputy Director Generals for Finance, Contact and Mobilisation, Media/Publicity Field Operations, Security, among others.

“The State Campaign Council is made up of 200 eminent members of our Party; the women wing to be led by Her Excellency, the first lady of the Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki with the wife of the PDP candidate, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor,” he said.

He noted that although the women’s and youth wings are two extremely important wings, they would operate independently and have a symbiotic connection with the other directorates.

The organising secretary for the state party clarified that the governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, led the party’s leaders in directly supervising the selection process.

“I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind, that this group of very versatile members of the PDP that have been carefully chosen will deliver our erudite, intellectually sound and broad-minded candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo,” he stated.