Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan Declared Winner of Kogi Central Senatorial Election

In a recent development, the Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal has declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election that took place in February.

This verdict comes as a significant turn of events for both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it invalidates the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere of the APC.

The Tribunal’s decision was delivered by Justice K. A. Orjiako, who represented the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel. Justice Orjiako revealed that Senator Ohere’s election results were inflated in nine polling units located in the Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

In contrast, Natasha’s results were reduced in those areas, and the results of three other polling units intended for Natasha in the same LGA were entirely omitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Following meticulous corrections to the discrepancies in the election results, the court declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election. She garnered a total of 54,074 votes, surpassing Senator Ohere, who had initially been declared the winner with 51,291 votes.

This ruling represents a significant victory for Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan and the PDP, vindicating their claims of irregularities in the election process. The Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal’s decision highlights the importance of transparent and credible electoral processes in upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.

This development is expected to have far-reaching implications for future elections in Kogi State and reinforces the significance of the judiciary in ensuring that the will of the people is accurately reflected in election outcomes.

As Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan celebrates her well-deserved victory, the APC may review its strategies and processes to prevent such discrepancies in future elections. The verdict also underscores the need for electoral reforms to enhance the transparency and fairness of Nigeria’s electoral system.