The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the verdict of the National Assembly and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election that was held on February 25.
The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice K.A. Orjiako, declared on September 6, 2023 that Akpoti-Uduaghan won the election with 54,064 votes. His closest rival, Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), received 51,291 votes.
The court also fined Ohere N500,000 to be paid to Akpoti-Uduaghan for the cost of the petition.
The PDP candidate had filed her petition at the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Kogi challenging the declaration of Ohere as the winner of the election.
Akpoti-Uduaghan sought a declaration that she won the election with the highest valid votes.
Ohere, Not satisfied with the tribunal judgement, approached the appellate court to dismiss the decision of the lower court and affirmed his declaration as the validly elected Senator for the Kogi Central Senatorial district.
Ruling on the appeal on Tuesday, the Appeal Court dismissed the appeal by Ohere and his party, the APC.
The court held that Ohere’s appeal lacked merit and upheld the ruling of the tribunal.
