Tribunal judgment won’t stop APC from retaining three senatorial seats in Kogi – Gov Bello

• The tribunal had declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party as the actual winner of the election
• The judges added that Natasha’s votes were intentionally reduced in the areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello says he is confident that the All Progressives Congress will keep all three senatorial seats.

The governor expressed his optimism following Wednesday’s Election Petitions Tribunal judgement overturning the February 25 Kogi Central senatorial election.

The tribunal had declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party as the actual winner of the election.

In his unanimous judgement, the Chairman of the three-man judicial panel, Justice K. A. Orjiako, nullified the victory of Senator Abubakar Ohere, saying the APC candidate’s votes were inflated in nine polling units of Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

The judges added that Natasha’s votes were intentionally reduced in the areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission, as well as the results of three other polling units, which were deliberately omitted for her in the same LGA.

Meanwhile, Governor Bello, while speaking to State House Correspondents in Abuja on Thursday said, “I want to assure you that even judging from yesterday’s pronouncement at the appeal court, we’re going to have our three-over-three senate in Kogi State, I can assure you.”