[BREAKING] Appeal Court: APC Loses Senatorial Seat To PDP (DETAILS)

[BREAKING] Appeal Court: APC Loses Senatorial Seat To PDP (DETAILS)

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has confirmed the removal of Abubakar Ohere, a member of the APC, and reaffirmed Barr. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the legitimate Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially declared Abubakar Ohere the winner on February 28 with 52,132 votes, slightly ahead of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP) who secured 51,763 votes.

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Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP candidate alleged electoral manipulation in favor of the APC contender. In a petition filed on March 16 by Akpoti-Uduaghan & PDP, they urged the court to declare Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial District election.

The tribunal, on September 6, nullified Senator Ohere’s victory and affirmed Natasha Hadiza as the duly elected representative after uncovering discrepancies in polling results.

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It was determined that polling figures were inflated in 9 polling units in favor of Ohere, while Akpoti-Uduaghan’s votes were intentionally undercounted by INEC officials. Additionally, results from 3 polling units were deliberately excluded for Akpoti-Uduaghan in the same local government area.

The tribunal stressed that collation officers should not reject results submitted by presiding officers, as long as the electoral guidelines were substantially followed. Following the necessary adjustments, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP), with 54,074 votes, emerged as the rightful winner over Abubakar Ohere (APC), who secured 51,291 votes.

The tribunal ordered INEC to revoke the certificate of return issued to Ohere and reissue it to Akpoti-Uduaghan. Furthermore, it criticized INEC for alleged collusion with APC officials to undermine the people’s will and directed the commission to pay N500,000 to the first petitioner.

Unsatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Ohere, APC, and INEC appealed to the final court in the matter, seeking to overturn the tribunal’s verdict and reinstate Ohere.

In consolidated appeals, CA/ABJ/EP/SEN/KG/35/2023 & CA/ABJ/EP/SEN/KG/57/2023, the Appeal Court upheld the tribunal’s decision and affirmed the PDP candidate as the duly elected Senator.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, hailing from Obeiba-Ihima in Okehi LGA, is Kogi State’s first female Senator.

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