Appeal: Natasha Akpoti Declared Winner Of Kogi Senatorial Election

Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party has been declared the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election held in February 2023.

The judgment was delivered in Abuja on Tuesday by the Court of Appeal, who dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress for lacking in merit.

Akpoti-Uduagan announced the victory at Appeals on her Facebook page and thanked her followers.

She posted on her Facebook page, “We won the Appeal. Joy amidst tears. Thank you Kogi Central. This is us together.”

The state’s Election Petitions Tribunal, in September, had declared Akpoti-Uduagan winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election, invalidating the victory of Ohere.

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako, delivered the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel, revealing that Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission reduced Natasha’s results in those areas and omitted the results of three other polling units meant for Natasha in the same LGA.

The Tribunal judgment led Ohere to seek redress. However, the Appeal Court further maintained that Akpoti-Uduagan won the election.