Election petition tribunal orders substituted service on Ohere over Kogi Central Senate tussle

The petition filed by the Kogi Central senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25th general elections, Barr. Natasha Uduaghan at the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal has received the order granting the application to serve the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Abubakar Sadiku Ohere, a notice of the petition through substituted means.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ohere, as the winner of the Senatorial election with 369 votes margin
However, the senator-elect was alleged to have been avoiding being served by the court.

The tribunal granted the order after the court bailiff was reportedly chased away by thugs loyal to the APC candidate.

In the order given by the Tribunal on Monday 27th, March 2023, Ohere will now be served all the processes in the suit by substituted means.

The order of the Tribunal reads:

“Leave is granted to the applicants to move this application for substituted outside of the pre-trial session.

“Leave granted to the petitioners/applicants to serve the respondent with the petition and other processes in this petition by substituted means to wit: by pasting the same on the entrance gate of the 2nd respondent, All Progressives Congress, headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi state.

“This mode of service when effected shall be deemed as proper and effective service of the petition and other processes on the 1st respondent.”

The PDP senatorial candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had rejected the declaration of Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of APC as the winner of the February 25, 2023 election for Kogi Central senatorial district.

Natasha is praying to be declared the winner of the election on the ground that she scored the highest number of lawful votes during the senatorial poll.