Usman Ododo Emerges Victorious in Highly Contested Kogi State Governorship 2023 Election

Landslide Victory for APC’s Usman Ododo

Kogi State Governorship: In a tightly contested battle for the Kogi State Governorship, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, has emerged as the winner, securing a landslide victory over his opponents. The State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, declared Ododo as the triumphant candidate at 10:23 pm on Sunday.

Ododo’s Impressive Win and Political Background

Usman Ododo clinched victory with an impressive 446,237 votes, overshadowing his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052 votes. Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed behind with 46,362 votes. Ododo, a former Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi during Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration, was the favored candidate of the outgoing governor, marking the end of Bello’s double term of eight years.

Controversies Surrounding the Election

The election was not without its share of controversies. Melaye, the PDP candidate, raised concerns about “filled result sheets” in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area. Allegations of violence and vote buying prompted Melaye to call for the suspension of the exercise. In response, INEC suspended the election in nine wards in the local government area.

INEC’s Decision and Reactions from Contenders

Late on Sunday, INEC announced the scheduling of fresh polls in 59 polling units in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area on November 18, 2023, in adherence to its principle of the margin of lead. Despite the margin being insignificant in comparison to Ododo’s lead, the decision implies the cancellation of elections initially slated for the affected polling units. Both Ajaka and Melaye, however, have rejected the outcome, expressing disappointment in INEC and accusing security agencies of collusion with the ruling APC in Kogi.

In the aftermath of this keenly-watched electoral battle, Kogi State finds itself at the center of political discussions, with the implications of the results rippling through the state’s political landscape. As Ododo prepares to take the reins of leadership, the contentious nature of this election serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in Nigeria’s democratic processes.