Appeal court declares Kogi East senatorial seat vacant

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A court of appeal sitting in Abuja, on Monday, declared the seat for the Kogi East senatorial district vacant.

Delivering the leading judgement in a pre-election matter instituted before the appellant court, Justice Abdul Aboki, held that, the previous judgement of the court of appeal which brought Senator Attai Aidoko to the Senate was in error, hence its nullification.

Recall that, erstwhile Senator and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Isaac Alfa, had appealed against the judgement of court of appeal of 14th December 2016, which nullified his election and installed Aidoko.

The Supreme court, therefore, referred the matter to the court of first instance to look into the pre-election matter with merit.

While the matter was being heard at the trial court, Senator Aidoko also filed an application at the appeal court, seeking an interpretation to the judgement of the apex court, on the eligibility of a candidate to the senate seat.

Consequently, the appellant court revised itself on its ruling of December 14th2016 and ordered Aidoko to vacate the seat, pending the determination of the court of first instance.

The implication of today’s judgement has left the people of Kogi East without a Senator in the 8th Assembly.