Kogi Guber: Gov Bello, Natasha, Wada To Know Fate As Appeal Court Concludes Hearing

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja will deliver judgment to determine the authentic winner of November 16 governorship election in Kogi State after concluded hearing on Monday and reserve judgment on the suit challenging the decision of Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal which upheld Governor Yahaya Bello's election.

The trio of Governor Yahaya Bello, of APC, Natasha Akpoti of SDP and Musa Wada of PDP will know their fate any moment from now on the authentic winner of November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.

After concluding hearing on Monday, the five-man panel of the Appeal Court led by Justice Adamu Jauro reserved judgment on the two separate suit challenging the judgment of Tribunal that upheld the election of Yahaya Bello of APC.

Natasha Akpoti of SDP,  the second runner up of the election is challenging the judgment of the Tribunal in the first appeal, and argued that the Tribunal erred in law by not considering the evidences and exhibits that were tendered before it as proof that the petitioner was excluded in the Kogi State governorship election held on November 16, 2019.

 Natasha Akpoti,  argued that her exclusion by INEC from the Kogi governorship election contravenes the Federal High Court order which faulted her initial disqualification by INEC and ordered it to include her party on the election.

Akpoti therefore prayed the Court to cancel the election and order for a fresh election in the state.

In the second Appeal, Musa Wada of PDP in his suit at the Appeal Court prayed the Court to upturn the judgment of the Tribunal and
declare him the winner of the election.

However, the Respondents through their Counsels urged the appellate Court to dismiss both petition for lack of merit.

The Counsel to Yahaya Bello, Joseph Odaudu (SAN) argued that Appeal Court does not have the power to entertain Natasha Akpoti's case,  he added that Musa Wada failed to substantiate his allegation of electoral malpractice.

After listening to the arguments of the parties involved, Justice
Jauro held that the judgments have been fixed to a date that will be communicated to the parties.