APC’s Usman Ododo Defeats Ajaka, Dino Melaye To Win Kogi State Governorship Election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, emerges as the winner in the November 11, 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election.

VerseNews reports that the State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, declares Ododo the winner with 446,237 votes, defeating Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Ahmed Usman Ododo of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Urama declared in a room crowded with party agents and election observers.

Ododo defeat his closest rival, Ajaka of the SDP who scored 259,052, while Melaye of the PDP polled 46,362 votes.

Ododo secured victory in over half of the 21 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, with Melaye previously raising concerns over “filled result sheets” in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area.

INEC suspended the election in nine wards in Ogori/Magongo, announcing fresh polls in 59 polling units on November 18, subject to the Returning Officer’s determination of the Margin of Lead Principle.

However, Melaye and Ajaka reject the election outcome, accusing INEC and security agencies of collusion with the APC in Kogi.