Tribunal Sacks Two APC Senators In Kogi; Natasha Wins

By Ayodele Oni

Within 24 hours, two Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi state have been sacked by the Election Petition Tribunal.

First to be sacked was the Senator representing  Kogi East, Jibrin Isah, on the grounds that elections were cancelled in 94 polling units.

The Tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units.

The Tribunal Chairman, K.A. Orjiako, who delivered the judgment on the petition brought before it by Victor Adoji, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 25 February election, agreed with the prayers of Mr Adoji.

Mr Adoji, had through his Counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), challenged the return of Mr Isah of the APC on the ground that elections were cancelled in some polling units where the PVCs collected were more than the margin of his win.

The petitioner had pleaded with the tribunal to anul the election of Mr Isah, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs Excise and Tarriffs, on the ground that elections were cancelled in 94 polling units and ordered for a supplementary election in the affected 94 polling units in the senatorial district.

Also on Wednesday, the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the winner of the February 25 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice K.A. Orjiakor in his ruling on Wednesday said Uduaghan scored 54,064 votes to defeat his closest rival Sadiku-Ohere who polled 51,291 votes.

He urged Ohere to pay Akpoti-Uduaghan N500,000 for the cost of the petition. Ohere is of the All Progressives Congress, APC.