By Chesa Chesa
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has congratulated the Kogi Central senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, Natasha Akpoti over her victory at the Appeal Court on Tuesday.
The governor said both Natasha, Senator Abubakar Sadiq Ohere, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and himself hail from the same Kogi Central Senatorial District and called on both to embrace peace in the interest of the development of the state.
Ohere and Akpoti had been locked in a protracted legal battle over who actually won the senatorial seat in the February 25 general election.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ohere as winner of the poll, the Election Petition Tribunal in the State nullified his victory, following a petition by Akpoti.
Tuesday’s ruling of the Appeal Court affirming the judgement of the tribunal in favour of Akpoti has put paid to the lingering battle.
Speaking to newsmen at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja after the meeting of the National Police Council, Governor Bello said he accepted the court verdict, but added that it would not stop the APC from winning the November 11 governorship election in the State.
His words: “At this moment, I accept the decision of the Appeal Court and I use this opportunity to congratulate my sister, Natasha as a senator of Kogi Central senatorial district.
“Let me also use this opportunity to congratulate everybody that has participated so far in this democratic process. This is the beauty of democracy.
“As a governor of the state as the leader of my own party, the All Progressives Congress, of course, I wouldn’t want to lose one seat to any opposition party in Kogi State.
“However, Natasha and Sidiq Ohere are my brother and sister. I use this opportunity again, to call on everybody from Kogi Central to please accept his decision. work hand in hand with all the elected members of both National and State House of Assembly.”
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