Court Sacks Kogi Senator, Orders INEC To Withdraw Certificate Of Return

Senator Atai Aidoko Usman. Photo;Kogi reporters

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate sack of the Senator representing Kogi East, Atai Aidoko from the Upper Legislative chamber.
The presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, ruled that Aidoko was wrongly presented as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the December 2014 Primaries conducted by the PDP.
Justice Kolawole, who ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw forthwith, the Certificate of Return issued to Senator Aidoko, also ordered the Clerk of the National Assembly to swear in Air Vice Marshal Isaac Alfa to replace the sacked lawmaker.

Following the presentation of Aidoko as the party’s flag bearer, AVM Alfa began a legal battle for the nullification of Aidoko’s election.

An appeal court had ordered parties to return to the trial court to allow it determine the rightful owner of the suit, thus rendering the seat vacant.
However, Aidoko refused vacating the office and has appeared repeatedly at Senate plenaries since then.
On Wednesday, the court ordered the PDP and Aidoko to pay Alfa N750,000 each.