The Lokoja Election Petition Tribunal upheld Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's victory in the Kogi Central Senatorial District election on February 25.
Justice K.A. Orjiakoin, chairman of the tribunal, ruled on Wednesday that Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) received 54,064 votes, narrowly defeating Sadiku Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 51,291.
Accordingly, the tribunal acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan as the legitimate victor of the contentious senate election. The court ordered Ohere to pay N500,000 to Akpoti-Uduaghan to cover the petition's legal fees.
She claimed that irregularities and miscounts had occurred at various polling places and tallying centers in her petition.
The tribunal decided that Akpoti-Uduaghan met all of the constitutional requirements for a winner to be declared after reviewing the evidence and hearing the testimony.
This historic ruling reverses the original declaration of victory for Ohere and the APC. In order to win the election in Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan had to overcome significant obstacles.
Akpoti-Uduaghan's dogged persistence in seeking the Kogi Central senatorial seat through democratic channels has been validated by the tribunal's ruling.
