By Ken Afor
Barely 48 hours after the Court of Appeal in Abuja declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner for the Kogi Central Senatorial Election in the February 25 poll, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Thursday swore in the female Senator.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the Kogi National Assembly Election Petition declaring Akpoti-Uduaghan winner of the election after nullifying the victory of Abubakar Sadiku Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aggrieved by the tribunal’s ruling, Ohere approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the lower court’s decision and reassert his claim to be a validly elected senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District.
However, the appellate court ruled in favour of Akpoti-Uduaghan on the grounds that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) inflated the result of Ohere and reduced the votes awarded to the female Senator.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s swearing-in of Akpoti-Uduaghan made her the 20th female lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly.
She will be joining the likes of Ireti Heebah Kingibe (Senator, FCT, Labour Party), Ipalibo Banigo (Senator, Rivers West, PDP), Idiat Oluranti Adebule (Senator, Lagos West, APC) in the red chamber.
