The Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan was declared the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election in February by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday.In a ruling, the three-member court rejected the appeal submitted by All Progressives Congress (APC) senator Abubakar Ohere and maintained the ruling of the state's electoral tribunal.
The submission of Mr. Joshua Usman, SAN, the attorney for Akpoti-Uduagan, was accepted by the court as meritorious.
Additionally, N500,000 was granted by the appellate court against Ohere.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Akpoti-Uduagan was proclaimed the legitimate winner of the election on September 6 by the Kogi State National and State Assemblies Tribunal.
Additionally, the tribunal declared Sen. Ohere's victory to be void.
The three-member panel's unanimous decision, which was given by the Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako, revealed that Sen. Ohere's results had been manipulated in nine polling places inside the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
He went on to say that three additional polling places in the same LGA that were designated for Natasha's vote were left out and that Natasha's results in those locations had been lowered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
After making the required adjustments, the court ruled that Natasha had received 54,074 votes, more than Ohere's 51,291 votes.
However, Ohere was not happy and went to the Court of Appeal to try to have the election overturned.