Appeal Court Affirms PDP’s Natasha As Kogi Central Senator

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Tuesday, affirmed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the duly elected Senator for Kogi Central senatorial district of Kogi State.

The appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Kogi State National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which earlier pronounced Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner of the February 25 National Assembly elections as against Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was earlier declared winner of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Recall that Sadiku-Ohere, being dissatisfied with the verdict of the Tribunal, had approached the Appeal Court for respite.

But, a three-man panel of Justtices of the appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Tribunal shortly after it dismissed Sadiku-Ohere’s appeal for lacking in merit.

According to the superior court, the appellant failed to provide convincing evidence why the judgement of the Tribunal should be set aside in his favour.

Justice Hamma Barka of the Appeal Court subsequently held that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP, having won the majority of lawful votes cast at the poll, is winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial District poll.