Kogi Central Senatorial Election: Tribunal declares PDP candidate, Natasha winner.
IDRIS AHMED, Lokoja
Kogi Central Senatorial Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja, on Wednesday, declared Natasha Akpoti Uduagan, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), as the winner of the February 25 Senatorial election.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako who read the unanimous judgment of the 3-man panel, said Abubakar Ohere’s results were inflated in 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA, while that of Natasha was intentionally reduced in the same 9 polling units by the INEC Ward Collation officers.
He also stated that results from 3 other polling units were deliberately not entered for Natasha in the same Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
The Tribunal stated that Natasha got 1073 votes from the 9 polling units of Ajaokuta instead of the 77 votes recorded for her by the Ward Collation officers, while that of the APC candidate, Abubakar Ohere was inflated to 1553 instead of 1031.
“The Tribunal is also convinced that the petitioner’s 996 votes in polling units 009, 046 and O49 polling units of Ganaja village of Ajaokuta LGA was deliberately not recorded at the Ward Collation centre.
“It is not the duty of Collation officers to reject results submitted by Presiding officers from polling units in election that followed the electoral guidelines substantially.
“The issues raised by the petitioner is hereby resolved in favour of the petitioners and after making the proper correction, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan (PDP) having polled 54,074 against Abubakar Ohere (APC) who polled 51,291 is hereby declared the authentic winner,” the Presiding Judge stated
The Tribunal therefore ordered the 3rd respondent (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ohere and issue same to Natasha.
The Court also expressed dismay over the deliberate act by the electoral body (INEC) as it failed to conduct a free and fair election and conniving with political parties to subvert the will of the people.
He therefore ordered INEC to pay N500,000 to Natasha for ‘subverting justice’ in the Senatorial election.
Responding to the judgment, Johnson Usman, (SAN), counsel to Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan, said the judgment has now validated the true winner of the Central Senatorial election.
“This is victory for people of Kogi Central Senatorial district, victory for Kogi and general victory for the election processes,” the Counsel stated.
