The All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kogi Central Senatorial district, Abubakar Sadiku Ohere has rejected the judgement of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja Kogi State, which gave Natasha Akpoti victory at the poll.
Akpoti, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner on Wednesday by the tribunal.
Ruling, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice K.A. Orjiakoin stated that Akpoti scored 54,064 votes to defeat his closest rival Sadiku-Ohere who polled 51,291 votes.
Justice Orjiakoin thereby fined and asked Ohere to pay Akpoti-Uduaghan the sum of N500,000 for the cost of the petition.
But, in a statement after the judgment, Ohere rejected the tribunal’s decision and expressed worry over the tribunal’s position that as a respondent, he should have filed a cross-petition to be able to challenge votes in an election petition.
He opined that the decision is contrary to Paragraph 15 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022.
Calling on his supporters to still have hope in the Court of Appeal where he intends to take his grievances, Ohere said:
“As a matter of fact, I presented before the Tribunal through my team of lawyers, a decision of the Appellate Court which held that a respondent does not need to file a cross-petition to challenge votes in an election petition if the ground for challenging the election is the majority of lawful votes.
“While I am waiting for my team of lawyers to give me full details on the judgment, I urge all my supporters to be calm and peaceful as their mandate is not lost.
“I know that I have the option of appeal which I shall exercise after due consultation with my lawyers.
“I am confident that we shall triumph at the next floor of justice by pointing to areas where we strongly disagree with the ruling. Your mandate shall be protected.”
READ OTHER STORIES:
Why Ousted Gabon President, Ali Bongo Was Released
Female Expert Who Uses Stolen Simcards To Withdraw Money From Victims’ Bank Accounts, Arrested
Atiku Heads For Supreme Court, Says He Got Judgement Not Justice
