While the headline references Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the legal battle at the Supreme Court primarily concerns the senatorial election dispute between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Sadiku Ohere.Context of the Legal BattleThe appeal before the Supreme Court is the culmination of a legal tussle that began after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Natasha the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial District election.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Files Counter-Affidavit, Opposes Appeal at Supreme CourtAbuja, Nigeria – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has formally filed a counter-affidavit before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, vigorously opposing an appeal challenging her victory in the February 2024 National Assembly election.

Tribunal & Court of Appeal: The APC candidate, Abubakar Ohere, had challenged her victory at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal and subsequently at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. Both lower courts upheld Senator Natasha’s election, dismissing the APC’s petition for lacking merit.Supreme Court Appeal: Dissatisfied with the decisions of the lower courts, the APC candidate has escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the previous rulings.

The Counter-AffidavitIn response to this latest appeal, Senator Natasha’s legal team, led by Chief J.O. Olatoke (SAN), has filed a counter-affidavit. The document urges the apex court to dismiss the appeal for being an abuse of court process and lacking in substance.Key arguments in the counter-affidavit likely include:Pre-Election Matters: Reiterating that the APC candidate was not validly nominated at the time of the election, a point upheld by the lower courts.

Lack of Merit: Arguing that the appeal does not raise any new, substantial grounds to warrant the Supreme Court overturning the concurrent judgments of the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.Compliance with Electoral Act: Asserting that her election complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.Clarifying the Reference to AkpabioIt is important to note that while Senator Natasha and Senate President Godswill Akpabio have been involved in a highly publicized political rift regarding Senate leadership and seating arrangements, this specific Supreme Court case is a legal matter concerning the Kogi Central Senatorial mandate against the opposition APC candidate.

The reference to Akpabio in the headline may stem from the ongoing political tension between the two lawmakers or the involvement of the Senate as an institution in the procedural aspects of the litigation. However, the direct appellant in the case seeking to unseat her is the APC candidate.