***Appeal Court declares Natasha winner of Kogi Central Senatorial election, Sacks Ohere
The senator Elect for Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan while celebrating her victory as first female senator to be elected from Kogi State on her verified Facebook, said, ‘We won the Appeal. Joy amid tears. Thank you, Kogi Central. This is us together.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, had upheld the ruling of the election petition tribunal which removed Abubakar Ohere of APC, and declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP as the legitimately elected Senator for the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The Appeal Court gave the judgment on Tuesday while ruling on an Appeal case filed before it by Abubakar Ohere.
The court further dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.
The election petition tribunal, had on September 6, affirmed Natasha as the duly elected Senator as it nullified Ohere’s victory citing inflated polling results in favor of Ohere in some units and deliberate undercounting against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako delivered the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel, revealing that Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
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.
The Tribunal judgment led Ohere to seek redress. However, the Appeal Court further maintained that Akpoti-Uduagan won the election.