The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Tuesday, declared Barrister Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election held last February.
The court further dismissed the appeal filed by Engr. Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.
Ohere had been occupying the Kogi Central seat in the 10th Senate since inauguration last June, but will now have to give way to Akpoti-Uduagan since the Court of Appeal is the terminal stop for legal action regarding parliamentary elections – national or state.
In September, the state’s Election Petitions Tribunal declared Akpoti-Uduagan winner of the election, and invalidated the victory of Ohere.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Kemakolam Orjiako, delivered the unanimous judgement of the three-man panel, revealing that Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area (LGA).
He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission reduced Natasha’s results in those areas and omitted the results of three other polling units meant for Natasha in the same LGA.
Reacting to the appeal court verdict, Akpoti-Uduagan, posted on her official Facebook page: “We won the Appeal. Joy amidst tears. Thank you Kogi Central. This is us together 🙏🏽”
