By correspondent in Lokoja.
Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
(c).AIT live.
Sen.Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
(c).Leadership news.
The All Progressives Congress,APC,candidate in the planned November 11,2023 governorship election in kogi state,Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,has congratulated Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, over the Appeal court judgment in Abuja, affirming her as the winner of kogi central election.
Ododo gave his congratulatory message in a statement, entitled,”
Kogi Central Verdict: The Courts Have Spoken, Time to Move On – Ahmed Usman Ododo,” he said in lokoja on Tuesday and a copy available to The Reporters on Wednesday.
The APC governorship candidate said,” Today’s verdict by the Court of Appeal, affirming the decision of the Lower Tribunal on the Kogi Central Senatorial Election, has further instilled in us, the power of the Rule of Law.
“A few days ago, the Supreme Court affirmed the victory of our national leader and President, HE Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as the duly elected President of our Federal Republic. And today, we lost the Senatorial Seat of Kogi Central to the People’s Democratic Party. We cannot accept one and reject the other one.
“As painful as the loss is, we have accepted the power of the Rule of Law in good faith and will move on.
“To this end, I congratulate my sister, Barr. Natasha Akpoti-Udughan on her victory at the Court of Appeal. I implore her to work hard for the development of the Senatorial District.
“To Distinguished Senator Abubakar Sadiku Ohere, you remain a hero forever and the future is bright”.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday upheld the ruling of the election petition tribunal which removed Abubakar Ohere of APC, and declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP as the legitimately elected Senator for the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Everyday recalls that
the Appeal Court gave the judgment on Tuesday while ruling on an Appeal case filed before it by Abubakar Ohere.
The court further dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.
The election petition tribunal, had on September 6, affirmed Natasha as the duly elected Senator as it nullified Ohere’s victory citing inflated polling results in favour of Ohere in some units and deliberate undercounting against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
