Natasha Akpoti has regained her title as the victor in the Kogi Central senatorial election, following a decision by the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal nullified Sen. Abubakar Ohere’s previously declared victory, affirming Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan as the legitimate winner of the February senatorial contest.
Justice K. A. Orjiako, the Tribunal Chairman, revealed in a unanimous ruling that Sen. Ohere’s results had been inflated in nine polling units of Ajaokuta Local Government Area (LGA), while Natasha’s votes had been deliberately reduced in those areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Additionally, results from three other polling units in the same LGA were intentionally omitted for Natasha. Following these corrections, the court declared Natasha, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner with 54,074 votes, surpassing Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 51,291 votes.
This decision comes after Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had rejected the election results five months ago, citing manipulations, figure tampering, polling unit cancellations in her favor, and the intrusion of armed thugs loyal to the APC in many polling units.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that the electoral process in Okene Local Government had been significantly manipulated in collusion with electoral officials. She claimed that APC-affiliated thugs had disrupted polling units in Okene, seized ballot boxes, and filled them in private residences. She also accused APC and INEC of disregarding electoral guidelines and fraudulently rigging Okene Local Government with substantial over-voting.
Furthermore, she claimed that the returning officer for Ajaokuta LGA had been pressured to cancel 12 polling units where she had a considerable lead and declare them inconclusive. In Okehi Local Government Area, APC thugs allegedly set fire to 20 polling units where she had a substantial advantage.
Despite these challenges, Akpoti-Uduaghan had initially won Ajaokuta with a 1,355-vote lead, which was later reduced to 878 in a bid to ensure the APC candidate’s victory. She emphasized that INEC guidelines had been blatantly disregarded throughout Kogi Central to thwart the will of the people.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected the election results and called on INEC to review and declare her as the rightful winner of the 2023 Kogi Central senatorial elections. Her struggle against the Kogi State Governor played a significant role in the election manipulation, but her determination to fight for justice prevails.
A remarkable woman indeed!
