Tag: Ajaka

The Independent Campaign Council (ICC) of the Ododo/Joel Campaign Organisation, on Monday, November 13, called on candidates in the just concluded Kogi state governorship election to join hands with the winner, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to develop the state.

Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the November 11, 2023 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, November 12.

Ododo pulled 446,237 to win the election.

Other candidates who participated in the poll include Yakubu Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress, Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party and 14 others.

The group in a statement by its Director of Media, Jacob Edi, in Lokoja, titled: “The storm is over” congratulated Ododo and Mr Joel Oyibo as Governor-Elect and Deputy Governor-Elect of Kogi state respectively.

They described Ododo’s victory as authoritative going by the number of votes he secured in the keenly contested elections to beat his opponents.

The group insisted that the interest of the state supersedes any sectional or individual interest.

Read Also: Ododo reacts after election victory, pledges to build prosperous Kogi

The ICC urged governor-elect, Ododo, to take urgent steps to unite the state, harness the abundant human and material resources in the state, and roll out his plans to develop the state to consolidate on the gains of Governor Bello.

The ICC also commended Governor Yahaya Bello “whose untiring efforts brought about a peaceful election as against the prediction of political opponents.

He noted: “Equally worthy of commendation are the good people of Kogi state who conducted themselves to ensure a violence-free election.”

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Saturday, November 11, Kogi state election, Murtala Ajaka, said he would not challenge Usman Ododo’s (APC) victory in court, saying it would be a waste of time.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ododo the winner of the race having polled 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Ajaka got 259,052 votes and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dino Melaye polled 46,362 votes.

Ajaka said that there were reports of pre-filled election results in several areas of the state prior to the start of voting on Saturday, implying that the election was rigged in Ododo’s favour.

He made this known during an appearance on Channels TV’s The 2023 Verdict programme on the night of Sunday, November 12.

He noted: “I have been around for the past 20 years. I know what it is. What am I going to court to do when the same INEC that did this is going to come as a witness to defend what they did? So, it is a waste of time. Except for the party people, because I’m hugely disappointed. If the INEC chairman allows this to stand, they are looking for trouble in Nigeria.

“You gave me assurances that the election would be transparent; you allowed me to waste my time, spend my money, mobilise my people, only for you to write the results. Even if I’m not sad about it, you expect my supporters to be happy. I assure you, if they allow this to stand as they are allowing in all the states now, they are calling for anarchy in this country.”

Read Also: Imo, Kogi governorship polls: Uzodimma, Ododo triumph

Speaking further, Ajaka called on the INEC chair, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to investigate the officials used for the conduct of the election and stated that he doubts if elections will be held in the country in 2027.

He said: “With all due respect to the person of the INEC chairman if they don’t do a checklist and investigate their officials that went to Kogi State and allow this to stand, I doubt if there will be an election in 2027. Because people will go into that election armed, and I fear Somalia will be a child’s play.

“If we knew it would be the same old music, we would have played along with that old music by inflating the results from my area.”

The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Muritala Ajaka has raised the alarm that results sheets for the ongoing governorship election for three local governments are missing.

Ajaka, who spoke shortly after casting his vote at Idah local government area of the state, listed to the affected council to include Okehi, Adavi, and Okene all in the Kogi.

The SDP candidate claimed that the staff of INEC in the three local government areas of the state have been compromised by those he described as some undemocratic element.

He said the party has already reported the situation to the INEC headquarters with the hope that the issue raised would be looked into.

Read Also: 1.8m voters to determine fate of Ododo, Melaye, Ajaka, 15 others

He, however, commended the electoral umpire for the smooth conduct of the exercise, describing the arrangements as perfect.

Ajaka equally applauded President Bola Tinubu for fulfilling his pledge to provide security for voters during the election.

His words, “I feel happy. I thank God for this day. From what we are seeing it is clear I’m the one having the majority but the report I’m getting from Okene and Adavi has been forwarded to Abuja.

“They have not seen the original results sheet in Okehi, Okene, and Adavi. And I am sure the INEC chairman is updated on this situation. And there’s no way we are going to an election where the original results sheet is not there. That is not in the guidelines.

“Everything about the INEC arrangement is 100%perfect but their men in Okehi, Okene, and Adavi have compromised. They should question the returning officers in these local governments I mentioned.”