Case filed against Natasha H. Akpoti strike out by Kogi National and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. Senator Ahmed Ogembe filed a case against candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), for Kogi central senatorial district, Natasha H Akpoti, over what he call incredibility of her to participate in the just concluded General elections, of which he promised to challenge her.
Justice O. A Chijoke, who is the head of the tribunal decided to struck out the case and adopted Natasha petition brought against the independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), All progressive Party (APC) candidate Yakubu Oseni who was declared winner by INEC for Kogi central senatorial district of the just conclude election after pre-hearing trial held in Abuja.
The tribunal chairman said that Akpoti was not declared winner of the election by the INEC as such, she cannot be a respondent to the suit of Ogembe.
However, The tribunal, adopted the SDP candidate’s petition on the outcome of the election.
Before this, the tribunal in his consolidation also ruled on all the petitions brought against the election, which was opposed by the respondent.
P. D Daudu, who is the Counsel to the APC had challenged the motion as moved by Akpoti’s counsel, Ekele Oboriole, that the two petitions on the election should be consolidated.
Passing Rule on the motion, the tribunal said, “where two or more petitions are filed on the same matter, all petitions shall be consolidated and wouldn’t be treated differently.
“Therefore we hereby granted that petition number 2 and 8 be consolidated and be treated as one.”
The tribunal chairman then adjourned the case to May 11, 2019 for further hearing and continuation of pretrial.
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