The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Usman Ododo has won the Saturday, November 11, 2023, off-cycle Governorship Election in Kogi.
He polled 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who scored 259,052 votes to place second.
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Johnson Ugamadu, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, announced the results on Sunday at the Lokoja Collation Centre.
He 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 declared the winner.”
The APC candidate won in 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Okene, Mopamuro, Kabba-Bunu, Adavi, Yagba West, Yagba East, Lokoja, Kogi/Koton-Karfe, Bassa and Ijemu.
This was even as Yakubu-Ajaka of the SDP won in Dekina, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Ankpa, Idah and Ibaji LGAs.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the results were announced, the Agent of SDP, Mr Ohemoyi David lamented that INEC announced the result despite the glitches witnessed during the election.
He noted that his party had written a petition to INEC on the election, yet they announced the result despite promising to conduct supplementary election in some LGAs on Nov. 18.
David vowed that SDP will definitely challenge the action in court.
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi thanked the residents for giving Ododo the opportunity to take over from him on January 27, 2024.
He appreciated the INEC, security operatives, CSOs and the media for making the election a success.
Bello promised that Ododo would not disappoint the state, but would continue with the developmental strides in the state.
Reacting, the excited Ododo thanked the people for counting him worthy to pilot the affairs of the state.
The governor-elect described himself as the people’s servant, who is ready to serve them faithfully for the growth and development of Kogi.
News Flash