Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been declared winner of last weekend’s poll. His main opponent, Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has vowed to challenge the results at the tribunal. Correspondent JAMES AZANIA writes on the governor’s journey to the second term.
Even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Yahaya Bello winner of the weekend election in Kogi State, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Musa Wada, had rejected the likely outcome.
Bello scored 406, 222 votes. Wada polled 189, 704 votes, while Natasha Akpoti of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came a distant third with 9, 482 votes.
The Kogi State Governership Election Collation Officer and Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, announced the result on Monday at the INEC office in Lokoja, after receiving results from the last two local government areas.
About 25 political parties contested the election.
The PDP agent at the collation centre, John Agada, who had challenged results from the LGAs, declined to sign the final result, saying it was not a true reflection of the exercise.
Accompanied by his running mate, Hon. Sam Aro, Wada, during a press conference, in Lokoja, on Sunday, even while collation of results from the 21 LGAs was ongoing, alleged that the results were falsified.
He said what happened over the weekend was neither democracy nor a reflection of the wishes of the electorate.
He lamented that the police colluded with INEC to undermine the will of the people.
He said there is no need for election, “if Okene that had forty thousand accredited voters, now came up with a hundred and twelve thousand.”
He described it as a sad day for Kogi people who he said are in mourning mood.
“Do you see anybody rejoicing? Is this how it is the day after a true victory? It is not about me here. It is about the long suffering people of the state who have been under bondage in the last four years.
“I won this election free and fair. Just imagine that they leave out the rigged election of Okene, Okehi and several cases of brutality meted on our supporters, and the widely reported cases of ballot snatching, I would have won neatly,” he declared.
Wada vowed to challenge the verdict at the tribunal.
“The governorship election is not about me, but about another four years of misgovernance that would be midwifed by the APC. The results were already written, and is not a reflection of the people’s wishes,” he added.
For the Kogi West Senatorial District rerun, INEC said it will announce the date for the supplementary.
While Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC) polled 80,118 votes, Senator Dino Melaye (PDP) polled 59,548
A winner was, however, not declared.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Olayide Lawal, declared the rerun inconclusive. He said the supplementary election will be conducted in 53 polling units, with 46,127 registered voters expected to participate.
Reactions trailed the declaration of Bello as the winner.
‘Governor Yahaya Bello had a total wide spread across the 21 LGAs in Kogi State. Even if you remove Okene vote from the total votes recorded for him, he will still have won the election’
There was jubilation around the NTA roundabout, Paparanda Square area of the capital and some other places.
Bello described his electoral victory as a reflection of true democracy.
The governor in a statement by his Director on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said he is now spurred to do more for the people of the state who overwhelmingly re-elected him for a second term in office.
He said: “This victory is for Kogi people that value true democracy. And, we can assure that Governor Bello will not abandon his campaign slogan, which expresses his desire to do more for Kogi people.
“We thank Kogites who voted for us. We also thank Kogi people who did not vote for us; they have challenged the governor to do more for them to earn their confidence.
“We urge the Peoples Democratic Party to act to exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the verdict of Kogi people.
“We also thank the party hierarchy for throwing their weight behind the governor.
“We thank the Independent National Electoral Commission, security operatives and other public institutions for ensuring that the election was free, fair, credible and peaceful.
“Governor Bello will do more for Kogi. Kogites will be better for it.”
A former speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bello, who hails from Kogi Central as the governor, said the victory can not be disputed.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is our son. We’ve been politically oppressed with acute marginalization for too long by previous governments. You may recall the event of January 27, 2012 when I was Acting Governor, which was painfully denied by Ibro/Wada after three days.
“This new Wada that was the candidate of the PDP told the whole world on an AIT interview that our votes from (Kogi) Central Senatorial District was inconsequential, and therefore, failed to campaign in our senatorial zone. These and many other factors made my people to come out to express their anger through the massive votes recorded in Okene and Adavi local governments, in particular.
“Governor Yahaya Bello had a total wide spread across the 21 LGAs in Kogi State. Even if you remove Okene vote from the total votes recorded for him, he will still have won the election.
“So, in this election, it was a pay back time, that it will be a practical lesson for those who erred in the past by the faulty assertions that only huge numbers can win elections. So many other factors could determine the emergence of victory and leadership, most importantly, Almighty God. This is our time as choosen by God Himself.
He added: “The kind of physical development going on in the five LGAs in our home are unprecedented. And, we are the grateful and appreciative type. GYB, as popularly called and admired by his teeming followers, did much in other areas which made him popular.
“When he led APC to over 85 percent victory in the 2019 general elections, some people thought that it was a fluke, but last Saturday’s election and it’s victorious outcome is pervasive and total. I have predicted this outcome many months back before the party primary election, that Governor Yahaya Bello will not only win the primary election, that he will win the main election convincingly.
“I have witnessed history today, and I am grateful to God.I admonish all Kogi kind hearted leaders to rally round him as we prepare for his second term in office. Kogi State will be more united under Governor Bello; his victory has simply signified the notion that any child of the common man from any part of Kogi State can aspire and be voted for as governor of our state.”
But, the poll has been trailed by criticisms. Independent observer groups and civil society organisations (CSO), midway into the exercise on Saturday, condemned widespread thuggery, voter intimidation and harrassment.
To the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), suppression, votes buying and intimidation of observers and journalists characterised the elections.
Idaya Hassan, Director, CDD, said the election was characterised by poor logistics arrangement, as materials and voting came late.
She lamented that armed thugs were moving in vehicles, despite the official restriction of movement, adding that she remained at a loss as to the authority under which the thugs were allowed to move.
She said the CDD expressed its concerns before the election, explaining that the shortcomings cast a dent on the Kogi election.
Hassan said despite several warnings to INEC and the influx of security agencies, the poll still failed.
The Chairman, YIAGA Africa, Dr Hussaini Abdu, said he witnessed vote buying on a first hand basis at several polling units, while the police looked on. He said it appears “our politicians are trying to normalise it.”
He added: “Reports on voter inducement and vote buying were observed across the LGAs. Specifically, YIAGA Africa received reports of voter inducement and vote buying in Adavi (PU 001 Afinorere), Ankpa (PU 010 Ward 01), Ibaji (PU 007 – Itale Iyanu Ward), Idah (PU 001 – Ugwod Ward), Yagba East (PU 01- Ward 08), Kogi KK (PU 005 – Ukwu Ward) and Ajaokuta (PU 005 – Deregulation Ward) LGA.
“Voters were paid as much as N5,000 in some cases in exchange for their votes. At Aluaja, Iyano Ward in Ibaji LGA, INEC officials were given N15,000 and security agents N5,000, to compromise the process.
“Unknown men and party agents of some identified political parties were found to be attacking and intimidating voters in polling units of LGAs in Dekina (PU 017 – Ward 12 and PU 001 Yashi), Lokoja (PU 001 – Ward Council) Ofu (PU 005 – Ugwalawo Ward), Ankpa (Ojojwu Ward 3) and Igalamela/Odolu (PU 022 – Ward 8) LGA. WTA observers were beaten and their observation checklists destroyed and, in the process, degenerated to sporadic shooting in PU 027 – Ayingba Etiaga, Dekina LGA.
With the contentious issues, yet at hand, the battle for supremacy for the most coveted state seat, may as well be shifted to the court arena.
‘But, the poll has been trailed by criticisms. Independent observer groups and civil society organisations (CSO), midway into the exercise on Saturday, condemned widespread thuggery, voter intimidation and harrassment’