Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has accepted the Court of Appeal ruling that upheld the election of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator for Kogi Central.
The governor stated this during a briefing with journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
“Today, as the Executive Governor of Kogi, I received news of the decision of the Court of Appeal nullifying the election of Abubakar Overe and confirming Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Senator representing Kogi Central.
“I accept the decision of the appeal court and take this opportunity to congratulate my sister Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as Senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District.
”Let me take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who has participated so far in this democratic process. This is the beauty of democracy,” he stated.
APC member Bello from the senatorial district said although he did not plan to lose the election, he had accepted the ruling in good faith.
”However, both Natasha Akpoti and Abubakar Overe are my brother and sister. “We all come from the same senatorial district, the same tribe and the same heritage,” Bello said.
The governor called on the people of Kogi Central to accept the decision of the Court of Appeal and work hand in hand with all elected members of the state and the National Assembly.
“Let us advance the course of development of our beloved senatorial district, our state and the nation at large.
“I thank the wise men who made this decision, I thank all the processes that culminate in today’s decision.
*We in Kogi Central, we in Kogi State, will remain united, we have a bigger picture ahead of us which is the November 11 gubernatorial election which we are prepared to win in a landslide,” he said.
READ ALSO: Court of Appeal declares Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan winner of Kogi Central Senate election
Bello urged Kogi residents not to be distracted ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election.
“Everyone must roll up their sleeves to ensure we have a smooth campaign, a free and violent election, and a resounding victory at the end of the day.”
The Abuja Court of Appeal on Tuesday confirmed Mrs Akpoti-Uduagan of the PDP as the winner of the Kogi Central Elections.
The three-member panel, in a unanimous ruling delivered by Hamma Barka, upheld the ruling of the state electoral tribunal and dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Overe of the APC.
The court agreed with the submission of Ms Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Johnson Usman, as meritorious.
The panel agreed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not give good reason for not collating results in parts of Kogi Central, particularly in Ganaja/Ajaokuta district, where results from nine were not collated. electoral units.
(YAYA)
