Dino Melaye Reacts As Court Of Appeal Affirms Natasha Akpoti As Kogi Senator

The Court of Appeal has affirmed Natasha Akpoti as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election.

Naija News reports the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, upheld the earlier ruling of the Tribunal and declared Natasha Akpoti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the authentic winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial seat.

The development was also confirmed on Tuesday in a post via the X platform by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the November 11 governorship polls in Kogi State, Dino Melaye.

According to Melaye, the Court of Appeal has validated the judgement of the Tribunal which gave victory to Akpoti. He congratulated the people of the state on the victory.

He wrote: “Natasha is now Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Praise God. Court of Appeal validated the judgement of the trial court. Congratulations to all lovers of Democracy in Kogi State.”

Natasha is now Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Praise God. Court of Appeal validated the judgement of the trial court. Congratulations to all lovers of Democracy in Kogi State

— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@_dinomelaye) October 31, 2023

Naija News recalls the election petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja had back in September, declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the winner of the Kogi East Senatorial election held on February 25, 2023.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiakoin, in his ruling on Wednesday, 6th September 2023, said Uduaghan scored 54,064 votes to defeat his closest rival Sadiku Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 51,291 votes.

Justice Orjiakoin said Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units of Ajaokuta Local Government Area (LGA) while that of Natasha was intentionally reduced in the areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as three other polling units results that were deliberately not entered for Natasha in the same LGA.

He urged Ohere to pay Akpoti-Uduaghan N500,000 for the cost of the petition.