The Senate has officially sworn in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the Senator representing the Kogi Central senatorial district.
This momentous occasion took place on Thursday during a session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who directed the clerk of the Senate to administer the oath of office to her.
The event marks a significant milestone as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, elected on the PDP platform, has become the first female Senator to represent Kogi State. Her journey to the Senate has been marked by legal battles and challenges, culminating in her official swearing-in.
This development follows her presentation of a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirming her as the duly elected Senator for Kogi Central.
The path to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate victory was not without hurdles. Earlier this week, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld her as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election, dismissing the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking merit. This decision confirmed her status as the legitimate representative of the district.
The legal battle had begun when the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Lokoja, nullified Ohere’s victory as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election in September. The tribunal’s ruling declared Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the actual winner of the February senatorial poll.
In response to the tribunal’s decision, Abubakar Ohere sought redress at the appellate court, hoping to overturn the ruling in his favor. However, the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment upheld Akpoti-Uduaghan’s victory once again, affirming her position as the elected Senator for Kogi Central.
With these legal battles now settled, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her rightful place in the Senate, representing the interests and aspirations of the people of Kogi Central senatorial district. Her journey to this historic position serves as an example of determination, resilience, and commitment to the democratic process.
