INEC declares APC’s Ododo winner of Kogi gov election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s governorship elction in Kogi State.

Ododo polled 446,237 votes to beat his closest rival, Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052 votes in the keenly contested election.

The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Johnson Ugamadu, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while declaring the result of the election at the collation centre in Lokoja, the Kogo State capital, said: “Usman Ododo of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law by scoring the majority of the votes cast in the November 11 off-cycle governorship election, is hereby returned elected.”

The APC candidate won in 13 Local Government Areas, including Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Okene, Mopamuro, Kabba-Bunu, Adavi, Yagba West, Yagba East, Lokoja, Kogi/Koton-Karfe, Bassa, and Ijemu.

Yakubu-Ajaka of the SDP, on the other hand, won in Dekina, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Ankpa, Idah and Ibaji Local Government Areas.

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Speaking to newsmen shortly after the results were announced, the agent of SDP, Ohemoyi David, expressed disappointment in the way and manner INEC went ahead to announce the result despite some abnormalities witnessed during the election.

David said: “We have written a petition to INEC on the election, yet it went ahead to announce the result even when it has pledged to conduct supplementary election in some LGAs on Nov. 18.

“We shall definitely challenge this action in court.”

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, however, expressed gratitude to the people of the state for giving Ododo the opportunity to take over from him on January 27, 2024.

He also thanked INEC, security operatives, and the media for seeing that the election was a success.

Governor Bello assured the people of Kogi State that Ododo would not fail the state in continuing with the development efforts to transform the state.

Ododo, on his part, thanked the people for counting him worthy to lead them in the next phase of leadership.

The governor-elect declared himself as “the people’s servant”, who is ready to serve them faithfully for the growth and development of Kogi State.

The Star