The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday nullified the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial election.
The court further declared Natasha Akpoti- Uduagan as the actual winner of the February Senatorial election in Kogi Central.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K. A. Orjiako who read the unanimous judgment of the 3-man panel, said Ohere’s results were inflated in 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA while that of Natasha was intentionally reduced in the same 9 polling units by the INEC Ward Collation officers.
He said 3 other polling units’ results were deliberately not entered for Natasha in the same LGA.
The court said that Natasha’s results in the 9 polling units of Ajaokuta LGA was 1073 against the 77 that was recorded by the Ward Collation officers while that of the APC candidate, Abubakar Ohere was inflated to 1553 against the actual figure of 1031.
“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 was deliberately not recorded at the Ward Collation centre.
The Tribunal said 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.
The Tribunal subsequently ordered the 3rd respondent (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of returns issued to Ohere and issue same to Natasha.
Credit: dailypost.ng
