Tribunal declares Natasha Akpoti of PDP winner Kogi Central senatorial election

The Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja has declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election held in February.

Its ruling automatically invalidated the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice K. A. Orjiako, the Tribunal Chairman, who delivered the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel, held that the results of Oheres were inflated in nine polling units in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

Orjiako stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reduced Akpoti-Uduagan’s results in those areas and omitted the results of three other polling units meant for Natasha in the same LGA.

Following the necessary corrections, the court declared Akpoti-Uduagan the winner of the election with 54,074 votes, surpassing Ohere, who garnered 51,291 votes.