15th April, 2023
By Thompson Yamput
The Kogi governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, APC was concluded on Friday with Alhaji Ahmed Ododo emerging the candidate of the party for the November 2023 election.
Ododo, was endorsed by Governor Yahaya Bello barely 24 hours to the primary as his preferred successor.
His open endorsement led to the withdrawal of eight other aspirants led by deputy governor of the state, Edward Onoja from the contest.
Announcing the result of the primary in Lokoja on Friday, Patrick Obahiagbon, Secretary of the Kogi APC Primary Election Committee, said Ododo scored 78, 704 votes to beat six other contestants.
Ododo’s closest challenger, Salami Momodu got 1, 506 votes, Abubakar Yahaya-Ashemogu, 1, 159, and Shaaibu Abubakar-Audu, 763 votes.
Th others candidates – Stephen Ocheni garnered 552 votes, Sanusi Ohiere, 424, and Smart Adeyemi 311 votes.
Obahiagha said that out of the 93, 729 voters, 83, 419 who were accredited, voted for candidates of their choice.
“Ododo, having scored the majority of the lawful votes cast at the direct primary election conducted on April 14, 2023, in Kogi, is hereby declared the winner of the APC primary election 2023.
“Ahmed Usman-Ododo is hereby returned as the duly elected governorship candidate of APC for the November 2023 governorship election,” he said.
Obahiagbon congratulated party leaders and members for the peaceful primary election.
The committee secretary also thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello, for making the democratic process possible.
Ododo was Kogi State’s Auditor General before he joined the race to succeed Governor Yahaya Bello.
The State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Alhaji Bashir Gegu, in an interview with newsmen at Gegu, Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi on Friday said that the track records and pedigree of Ododo were what humbled other aspirants in the race for the party’s candidature to step down for him.
He said the Auditor General is humane, truthful, loyal to the core and very committed to whatever assignment before him and these qualities endeared him to Gov. Yahaya Bello and other party members.
Gegu said, “Ododo is very humble, humane and generous person worthy to be trusted at all times.
“The Auditor General can also be said to be a man who is coming from the system that made him and is believed to be capable of carrying on with the legacies of his boss , Gov Bello to improve the standard of living of all Kogites.
“Like Bello, Ododo has a lion heart in spite of his calmness and gentleness to tow the path of the governor to defend the lives and property of all residents of Kogi if given the chance in the Nov. 11 governorship election, ” he said.
The commissioner called on all APC members and supporters to ensure that they give their maximum support and prayers for Ododo to emerge victorious at the governorship poll.
(NAN)