The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the election victory of Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election held in February.

The three-member panel, in a judgment, upheld the decision of the state’s election tribunal and dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court agreed with the submission of counsel for Ms Akpoti-Uduagan, Joshua Usman, SAN, as meritorious.

The appellate court also awarded N500,000 against Mr Ohere.

The Kogi State National and State Assemblies Tribunal had, on September 6, declared Ms Akpoti-Uduagan the validly elected candidate for the poll.

The tribunal also invalidated the victory of Mr Ohere.

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

He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission reduced Ms Akpoti-Uduagan’s results in those areas and omitted the results of three other polling units meant for the PDP candidate in the same LGA.

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

But unsatisfied, Ms Ohere approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to upturn the election.

(NAN)