Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Validated as Kogi Senator by Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) as the legitimate winner of the February 25 Kogi Central Senatorial election. Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere's appeal, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was denied by the three-member tribunal, which upheld the decision of the Kogi National and State Assemblies Tribunal.

The court accepted the meritorious submission made by Joshua Usman, a senior advocate, who represented Akpoti-Uduagan. As a result, the Appeal Court panel, led by Hamma Barka, declared Akpoti-Uduaghan the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial District poll, having secured the majority of valid votes cast.

Additionally, the appellate court ordered Sadiku-Ohere to pay N500,000 to Akpoti-Uduaghan to cover the cost of the petition.

Previously, the Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja, Kogi, had already declared Akpoti-Uduaghan as the victor of the 2023 senatorial elections held on February 25. The tribunal ruled that she secured 54,064 votes, defeating her closest rival, the APC candidate Sadiku-Ohere, who received 51,291 votes.

Furthermore, the tribunal revealed that results were inflated in favor of the APC in nine polling units in Ajaokuta Local Government Area, while Akpoti-Uduaghan's votes were intentionally reduced in those areas. Results were also not entered in favor of Akpoti-Uduaghan in three other polling units.

With the Court of Appeal's ruling, the number of female senators in the Nigerian National Assembly has increased, supporting greater gender representation in the upper chamber.