The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, was assaulted today at the Supreme Court by unidentified thugs.
The incident occurred shortly after the Supreme Court upheld the election of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress as the Governor of Kogi State.
Recall that Ajaka had challenged the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission after the November 11, 2023, election, which declared Usman Ododo of the APC as the winner.
A five-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed Ododo’s victory and refused to void the election as requested by Ajaka.
Meanwhile, lawyers and concerned citizens have expressed disbelief and condemnation over the brazen attack, demanding answers as to how the assailants gained access to the heavily guarded Supreme Court premises. Many have pointed to the incident as a disturbing indication of the state of security in the country and a worrying erosion of respect for the judiciary.
Reactions on social media have been swift and impassioned, with users expressing their shock and dismay at the events that unfolded. One user, @pdauda, accused the APC of boldly bringing thugs to the court premises, lamenting the “foolish laws” that render elected officials untouchable. Another, @Greatix_post, speculated that the attackers might have been judicial workers, given the strict access controls at the Supreme Court.
The incident has also reignited criticism of the political climate in Kogi State, with some attributing the violence to the “brand of violent politics” allegedly introduced by the APC and the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello. @Edu2quest described Kogi as a “hoodlum state,” while @Enudi3 went as far as calling the APC “a cult and not a party.”
Calls for action and accountability have been widespread, with many urging the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to prioritize defending the integrity of the Supreme Court. @UzonnaOnonye, a TVC News anchor, tweeted, “There must be an end to these recklessness. How did those people even get there? New CJN, your work is cut out for you. Defending the integrity of the Supreme Court should be total.”
As investigations into the incident commence, Nigerians await a robust response from the authorities, hoping that those responsible for this egregious breach of security and assault on the judiciary will be swiftly brought to justice. The attack on Murtala Ajaka at the Supreme Court has become a lightning rod for broader concerns about the state of the nation, with many seeing it as a symptom of deeper issues plaguing Nigeria’s political and judicial systems.
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