The Court of Appeal in Abuja has sacked Senator Sadiku Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress, APC representing Kogi Central in the tenth senate.
The Court on Tuesday, affirmed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the People’s Democratic party, PDP as the duly elected Senator for Kogi Central Senatorial district.
The appellate court affirmed the judgement of the Kogi State National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which earlier pronounced Natasha as rightful winner of the February 25 National Assembly elections as against Sadiku Ohere of the APC, who was earlier declared winner of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a judgment Justice Hamma Barka resolved all contending issues against the appellant (Sadiku) and awarded a cost of five hundred thousand naira against him.
The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal had nullified the victory of Senator Abubakar as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako who read the unanimous judgment of the 3-man panel, said Abubakar’s results were inflated in 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA while that of Natasha was intentional reduced in 9 of the same polling units by the INEC, as well as 3 other polling units result that was deliberately not entered for Natasha in the same LGA.
The Tribunal after making the proper correction, declare Natasha Akpoti- Uduagan (PDP) as winner of the poll having polled 54,074 against Ohere (APC) who polled 51,291.
Dissatisfied with the Tribunal verdict, Abubakar approached the court of appeal in which the court dismissed the appeal for being unmeritorious.
The governor of the state, Yahaya Bello is from the district.
Confidence Okwuchi
