Natasha Akpoti sworn in as Kogi central senator

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been sworn in as the senator representing Kogi central.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the clerk of the senate to administer the oath on her on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Thursday.

The development comes two days after the court of appeal affirmed Akpoti-Uduaghan as winner of the Kogi central senatorial district election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the February 25 election.

Rotimi Ajayi, INEC returning officer for the district, had announced that Sadiku-Ohere garnered 52,132 votes to beat Natasha who had 51,763 votes.

Not satisfied with the outcome of the polls, Akpoti filed a petition seeking to nullify the election over “irregularities”.

The national assembly petitions tribunal upheld the prayers of the PDP candidate and nullified Sadiku-Ohere’s election.

The APC candidate appealed the verdict but the court of appeal upheld the decision of the tribunal.

The appellate court said Sadiku-Ohere’s appeal lacked merit.