 on her election victory at the Appeal Court){kind=link}
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State Tuesday congratulated Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on her election victory at the Appeal Court.
The Appeal Court has affirmed judgment of the election tribunal which declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as validly elected Senator of Kogi State Central.
The court also affirmed the nullification of Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was earlier returned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the election.
In the unanimous judgment read by Justice Hamma Barka, the court held, among others, that Sadiku-Ohere failed to provide convincing evidence why the tribunal’s judgment should be reversed.
INEC declared Sadiku-Ohere winner of the February 25 election, a decision Akpoti-Uduaghan contested on the grounds that INEC failed to input results from Ajaokuta, Adavi and Okehi Local Government Areas, where she polled more votes.
The Court also dismissed an appeal by INEC against the tribunal’s judgment. It held that the appeal was of no utilitarian value and a mere waste of judicial time. The court held that such an appeal, from INEC, supporting a particular candidate, should be discouraged,.
It further held that INEC ought to be an unbiased arbiter and proceeded to award N500,000 cost against the electoral umpire.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan becomes the fourth female senator to emerge from the 2023 election. The others are Dr. Idiat Adebule (APC – Lagos West); Ireti Kingibe (FCT -Labour Party) and Mrs. Banigo Ipalibo-Harry (PDP -Rivers State).
Bello, hails from Kogi Central, who addressed reporters after attending the Police Council meeting, called on the people of the state, particularly in Kogi Central to accept the judgment and remain law abiding.
Governor Bello emphasised that Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ohere, with himself, are relations and have no need to quarrel. He said that it was his responsibility to ensure that everyone lives in peace and harmony.
“I accept the decision of the Appeal Court, and I congratulate my sister, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on her affirmation as senator to represent Kogi Central.
“We will continue to be united. We have a larger picture ahead of us, which is the November 11 governorship election, which we are poised to win with a landslide. Let no one get distracted.”