By Abu Ibrahim Ozi (Kogi State Correspondent, in Lokoja)
Barrister Natasha Akpoti, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Kogi State Central Senatorial Election in the February 25, 2023, has been adjudged winner in that election.
According to the judicial pronouncement on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 by the Chairman of the 3-man Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, Justice K. A. Orjiako, Natasha Akpoti defeated her rival in the election, incumbent Senator Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The Tribunal said Akpoti won mainly in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State. The election court ruled that Senator Abubakar Ohere's results were inflated in 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA while that of Natasha was deliberately reduced in the same 9 polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Ward Collation officers.
Justice Orjiakor also stated that 3 other polling units results were intentionally not entered for Natasha in the same LGA. Natasha's results in the 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA, the Tribunal pointed out, was 1, 073 as against the 77 votes that was recorded by the Ward Collation officers, while that of the APC candidate, Abubakar Ohere was inflated to 1, 553 votes against the actual figure of 1,031.
“The Tribunal is also convinced that the petitioners 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".
However, the Tribunal held that it is not the duty of the 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 Tribunal subsequently ordered the 3rd respondent (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Returns issued to Abubakar Ohere and issue same to Natasha Akpoti. It also lambasted INEC for deviating from its mandate of conducting a free and fair election to conniving with political parties to subvert the will of the people.
Consequently, Justice Orjiako directly INEC to pay N500,000 to Natasha for ‘subverting justice’ in the Senatorial election.
Johnson Usman (SAN), lawyer to Natasha Akpoti, said in his response to the judgment that the verdict has now affirmed the actual winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election. He said: “This is victory is for the people of Kogi Central Senatorial district. It is victory for Kogi State and Nigeria in general as well as victory for the electoral processes". NNL.
