The Die Is Cast, It's Now Between Kogi SDP Gov'ship Candidate, Natasha Akpoti And Gov Yahaya Bello
With the judgment of Lokoja High Court which nullified the governorship Primary Election of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kogi, the die is now cast and the legal tussle for who rules the confluence state for the next four years is now between Kogi Social Democratic Party, SDP, governorship candidate, Natasha Akpoti and governor Yahaya Bello of APC.
The court judgment means that PDP doesn't have a governorship candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, hence the ongoing legal battle at the Tribunal where the candidate of the party that participated in the election and came second, Musa Wada who is currently seeking the relief of the Tribunal to be declared winner on the ground that he had the highest valid votes will now amount to fruitless journey and may be suspended forthwith as the primary election that produced him has been nullified.
While the camp of governor Yahaya Bello is celebrating the fact that the PDP candidate, Musa Wada, has been kicked out of the way, Kogi SDP on the other is also celebrating the Court judgment which makes the party's candidate, Natasha Akpoti the first runner up.
The Candidate of SDP in the governorship election who happened to be the only lady amongst the two gladiators who is now automatic first runner up will now go head to head with governor Yahaya Bello in the legal battle.
Natasha Akpoti who hailed from Kogi Central Senatorial District where the governor hails from has earlier approached the Tribunal and prayed that the election that returned Yahaya Bello for the second term should be nullified on the ground that the election was marred by violence and electoral malpractices.
As the PDP has been taken out of the way, Natasha Akpoti who scored 9,482 total votes in the governorship election will have to fight Yahaya Bello who scored 406,222 votes to win the case and emerge the first elected female governor in Nigeria.
As the legal battle will now be between Natasha Akpoti and Yahaya Bello who are both Ebiras, declaring Natasha the winner of the election may be difficult with her 9,482 votes and also the fact that it was not in her prayers to the Tribunal for her to be declared the winner of the election.
Although Natasha has the opportunity to pursue her case to Supreme Court to the level to seek for justice.
The PDP candidate who prayed that the Tribunal should declare him the winner of the election having scored the highest valid votes may not abandon his case at the Tribunal immediately especially now that he has declared his intention to appeal the judgment of the High Court but he may end up working for Natasha Akpoti if the Appeal Court uphold the ruling of the High Court.
By and large, judging from the recent judgment of post election litigations in the country, it may not be out of place to say that nothing is impossible in Nigeria legal system but it may be one of the many political dramas for her to be declared the winner of the election without going for rerun or fresh election.
Kogites and indeed Nigerians are keenly following the unfolding events in Kogi State as the state goes on another dramatic turn of event.
Isah Bala
The court judgment means that PDP doesn't have a governorship candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, hence the ongoing legal battle at the Tribunal where the candidate of the party that participated in the election and came second, Musa Wada who is currently seeking the relief of the Tribunal to be declared winner on the ground that he had the highest valid votes will now amount to fruitless journey and may be suspended forthwith as the primary election that produced him has been nullified.
While the camp of governor Yahaya Bello is celebrating the fact that the PDP candidate, Musa Wada, has been kicked out of the way, Kogi SDP on the other is also celebrating the Court judgment which makes the party's candidate, Natasha Akpoti the first runner up.
The Candidate of SDP in the governorship election who happened to be the only lady amongst the two gladiators who is now automatic first runner up will now go head to head with governor Yahaya Bello in the legal battle.
Natasha Akpoti who hailed from Kogi Central Senatorial District where the governor hails from has earlier approached the Tribunal and prayed that the election that returned Yahaya Bello for the second term should be nullified on the ground that the election was marred by violence and electoral malpractices.
As the PDP has been taken out of the way, Natasha Akpoti who scored 9,482 total votes in the governorship election will have to fight Yahaya Bello who scored 406,222 votes to win the case and emerge the first elected female governor in Nigeria.
As the legal battle will now be between Natasha Akpoti and Yahaya Bello who are both Ebiras, declaring Natasha the winner of the election may be difficult with her 9,482 votes and also the fact that it was not in her prayers to the Tribunal for her to be declared the winner of the election.
Although Natasha has the opportunity to pursue her case to Supreme Court to the level to seek for justice.
The PDP candidate who prayed that the Tribunal should declare him the winner of the election having scored the highest valid votes may not abandon his case at the Tribunal immediately especially now that he has declared his intention to appeal the judgment of the High Court but he may end up working for Natasha Akpoti if the Appeal Court uphold the ruling of the High Court.
By and large, judging from the recent judgment of post election litigations in the country, it may not be out of place to say that nothing is impossible in Nigeria legal system but it may be one of the many political dramas for her to be declared the winner of the election without going for rerun or fresh election.
Kogites and indeed Nigerians are keenly following the unfolding events in Kogi State as the state goes on another dramatic turn of event.
Isah Bala
Weld one brother. Kogi state is confused
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