In a dramatic turn of events at the presidential tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday being 6th September 2023, Governor Yahaya Bello, was seen weeping openly as the court declared Barrister Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the duly elected senator of Kogi Central senatorial election.
Governor Yahaya Bello, visibly angry at the judgment, was captured on camera shedding tears and muttering incomprehensible phrases while attempting to cover his eyes with a handkerchief.
Sources close to Governor Yahaya Bello, who requested anonymity, revealed that he immediately called the affected senator, Ohare, to appeal against the judgment, expressing his dissatisfaction with the outcome.
The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, which convened in Lokoja, Kogi State, delivered this ruling.
The panel of justices, led by Justice K.A. Orjiako, determined that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had proven beyond reasonable doubt the existence of malpractices and irregularities during the senatorial election.
According to the Tribunal’s findings, Barr. Natasha of the PDP secured 54,354 lawful votes, while Ohare of the All Progressieve Congress (APC), received 51,291 votes.
Consequently, the Tribunal nullified Ohare’s election from the APC and declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP as the duly elected Senator of Kogi Central senatorial district, with a margin of 3,063 votes.
The Tribunal further characterized the act of vote deduction as a grave offense and ordered the APC/Ohare to pay a fine of N500,000 to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP.
This ruling has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, leaving Governor Yahaya Bello in a state of deep bitterness.
The aftermath of this decision is likely to reverberate in the coming days, impacting the political dynamics of Kogi State.
