The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi State has nullified the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election.
The tribunal declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the February 25 parliamentary election.
In a unanimous judgment of the 3-man panel, the tribunal chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako, said Ohere’s results were inflated in 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA in the said election.
He added that votes of the PDP candidate in the said election was intentionally reduced in 9 polling units by the INEC Ward Collation officers.
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Justice K. A. Orjiako also stated that 3 other polling units’ results were deliberately not entered for the PDP candidate in the same LGA.
The tribunal chairman said Natasha’s results in the 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA was 1,073 against the 77 that was recorded by the Ward Collation officers, stressing that of the APC candidate was inflated to 1,553 against the actual figure of 1,031.
“The Tribunal is also convinced that the petitioner’s 996 votes in polling units 009, 046 and O49 polling units of Ganaja village of Ajaokuta LGA were deliberately not recorded at the Ward Collation centre,” Justice Orjiako held.
The tribunal added that it is not the duty of collation officers to reject results submitted by presiding officers from polling units in elections that followed the electoral guidelines substantially.
He added that “The issues raised by the petitioner is hereby resolved in favour of the petitioners and after making the proper correction, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan (PDP) having polled 54,074 against Abubakar Ohere (APC) who polled 51,291 is hereby declared the authentic winner.”
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