Tribunal Ruling: APC Senator Sacked as Natasha Akpoti Emerges Kogi Central Senator

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election held on February 25.

The election petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja delivered its verdict on Wednesday, overturning the initial result that favoured Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiako, said that Akpoti-Uduaghan polled 54,064 votes, while Ohere got 51,291 votes. He ordered Ohere to pay Akpoti-Uduaghan N500,000 as the cost of the petition.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is the first female senator from Kogi Central, had challenged the outcome of the election at the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi. She alleged that there were irregularities and malpractices that marred the election.

The tribunal heard the arguments of both parties and their counsel before reaching its decision. Counsel to Ohere, APC and INEC, Messers M.Y. Abdullahi (SAN), S.A. Abbas and Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively, urged the tribunal to dismiss Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition for lacking in merit.

However, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Umeh Kalu (SAN) and Johnson Usman (SAN), countered the claims of the respondents and asked the tribunal to uphold their petition. Usman, who spoke on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, said their address was clear about their disagreement with the issues raised by the respondents in their written addresses.

The tribunal agreed with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel and ruled in her favour. The ruling has been hailed by her supporters as a victory for democracy and justice.

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