The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KOGI

  • Election is over, don’t create problems for us in Kogi – CP

    Election is over, don’t create problems for us in Kogi – CP

    The Kogi Commissioner of Police, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, on Wednesday warned trouble makers not to create problem for Kogi since election had come and gone peacefully.

    The commissioner made the plea after some suspected party supporters staged a protest at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday.

    “We thank God that the Off-Cycle Governorship Election of Kogi has come and gone peacefully and we don’t expect any one to cause any problem for us.

    “As security agency, we are imploring the politicians and INEC to follow the legal constitutional process since the issues are being handled by the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “I was taken aback when some SDP protesters filed out with various placards trying to barricade the INEC.

    “I had to address them against that and urged them to go away and use the tribunal to address whatever grievances so as not to create problem for our peaceful state, ” he said.

    Some suspected supporters of the SDP in Kogi had stormed the state secretariat of INEC in the early morning of Wednesday, protesting against alleged “INEC’s tampering with election materials”.

    Security agencies, however, moved in on time to prevent an attack on the INEC Office, dispersing the protesters with tear gas and barricading the road leading to the office.

    The protest at first started peacefully, until some of the protesters started throwing harmful objects and harassing passers-by.

    The protesters were demanding that the election materials be moved to Abuja.

    One of the protesters who identified himself as Danjuma, told newsmen that they were sure the materials at the INEC office had been compromised by the APC.

    “We have it on good authority that the APC and Yahaya Bello have tampered with the election materials.

    “The materials they are taking to the tribunal have already been doctored. So we are calling on INEC to take the original material to INEC, or we will make Kogi State ungovernable.

    “We are calling on the president and also the National Chairman of INEC to ensure the doctored materials are immediately replaced with the original ones before they are presented at the tribunal. Anything other than that will be resisted,” he said.

    Contacted, the Director, Media and Publicity of the Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Council, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, dismissed the allegations as senseless and called on the authorities to call the SDP to order.

    He said the APC would assess the situation and issue an official statement on it later, noting that “the SDP people know they have no evidence to back their claims. They are playing the victim, to cover their shame.”

    Fanwo called on the SDP to allow the Tribunal to sit peacefully and give INEC the breathing space to do their work as required by the law.

    The SDP, in statement issued by Mr Faruk Adejoh-Audu, Spokesman, Muri-Sam Governorship Campaign Council, disowned the protesters and branded them as Gov Yahaya Bello’s sponsored thugs.

    “Over 500 persons, most of them thugs have been deployed to the INEC office in Lokoja to attack lawyers and forensic experts of the SDP, to prevent them from examining documents and materials emanating from the Kogi Nov. 11 governorship elections.

    “The thugs and posters procured for them have also been detailed to attack and sack the office to ensure the materials needed for our party to prosecute its petition at the tribunal are compromised, ” Adejoh-Audu alleged.

    Read Also: Kogi: If anything happens to INEC office, hold SDP responsible – APC

    Nevertheless, when the election petition tribunal resumed sitting on Wednesday, lead Counsel to SDP, Mr John Adele (SAN), told the Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu panel that INEC had started complying with the tribunal’s order for the release of electoral materials for their inspection.

    “My Lord, INEC has started complying but only this morning some protesters barricaded the road to its (commission’s) office and we don’t know why, ” Adele said.

    Justice Birnin-Kudu, however, urged the security operatives in the state to rise to the occasion and ensure that the INEC was well protected and secured.

    The tribunal had on Saturday, ordered INEC to provide SDP with certified copies of required election materials to help it challenge the victory of APC at the Nov. 11 governorship election.

    Usman Ododo of the APC had won the election with a wide margin, polling 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the SDP, who got 259,052 votes. Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party polled 46,362 votes.

    (NAN)

  • Kogi: If anything happens to INEC office, hold SDP responsible – APC

    Kogi: If anything happens to INEC office, hold SDP responsible – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council in Kogi has called on the general public to hold the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state responsible, if anything untoward happens to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) office in Lokoja.

    The APC campaign council also called on security agencies to fortify security around INEC offices given the alarm raised by the SDP.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director of Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the APC campaign council, made the calls in a statement issued in Lokoja on Sunday night.

    The SDP had, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director General, New Media, MuriSam Campaign Council, Mr Isaiah Ijele, claimed that it had uncovered plans to burn down INEC office in Kogi.

    Ijele alleged: “It has come to our notice via grave vines that there is an urgent need for security to be beefed around the Kogi INEC office in order to avert the sinister plot to burn down the office by mandate bandits.”

    But the APC campaign council said the party was convinced that the false alarm raised by the SDP over a purported planned attack on the INEC office was to cover up the party’s sinister motive of torching the INEC office and turning around to blame it on the APC.

    Fanwo said: “As they know they have no evidence to substantiate their characteristic lies about the credibility of the Kogi State Governorship Poll that has been adjudged as the best in the democratic history of our dear state.

    “Their clandestine move to cover up their propaganda-fuelled claims about the election is well documented as we call on security agencies to fortify security around the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission across the state.

    “No amount of propaganda can help their baseless, senseless, unsubstantiated claims after their scorecard at the poll was at complete variance with their boastful pre-election posture.

    “They have resorted to attacking INEC and everyone except themselves. Such is the sorry state of a party and its candidate who lack the political pedigree to challenge the politically rooted APC in Kogi.

    Read Also: Bello freezes Kogi accounts

    “Despite their intimidation and blood-letting rampage in some parts of the state, INEC conducted a credible, free and fair election and the security agencies also ensured that the votes of the people counted.

    “We commend Kogi residents for standing up to ethnic bigots by responding resoundingly with votes that reflected our unity as a people.”

    According to him, no one is afraid of the legal challenge of the SDP ”since they failed to win the election and failed to disunite our state and our people”.

    (NAN)

  • Bello freezes Kogi accounts

    Bello freezes Kogi accounts

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has directed the immediate freezing of all the state and local governments’ accounts with immediate effect.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris confirmed the order.

    The statement reads: “No imprest or any form of payment should be made to anyone from Government Account henceforth.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Kogi Gov Bello freezes Kogi accounts

    “Standing Orders and Investment Instructions are hereby cancelled forthwith.

    ”All Kogi State and Local Government Accounts are hereby FROZEN with effect from today, Thursday 22nd November 2003.”

  • Kogi governorship election petition tribunal begins sitting on Saturday

    Kogi governorship election petition tribunal begins sitting on Saturday

    The Kogi Off-Cycle Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, constituted by President of the Court of Appeal (COA), Justice Monica Bolna’an-Dongban, is set to begin sitting on Saturday, an official has disclosed.

    Mr David Umar-Mike, Secretary of the tribunal, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Thursday.

    The Nov. 11 election saw Alhaji Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge as winner with 446,237 votes while his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) garnered 259,052 votes.

    The tribunal secretary said: “By God’s grace, the tribunal will be sitting this Saturday, Nov. 25. We will take exparte motions.

    “This is because all we have at hand right now are the exparte motions that will be taken on that Saturday.

    Read Also: Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi again

    “But the work proper may take few more days because counsels will have to go and start looking for documents at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the rest of them before they file their various petitions, ” he stated.

    He said that the constitution of the election tribunal was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act (as amended).

    According to him, the registry of the tribunal has since opened for business at the state High Court of Justice complex, Lokoja.

    (NAN)

  • Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi again

    Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi again

    Last week, this writer suggested in another place that the APC would win Imo while the PDP would take Bayelsa. He also suggested that the APC was undeserving of victory in Kogi, regardless of the political and ethnic permutations of the state. The outcomes of the off-cycle November 11 polls in the three states bore out these predictions. The elections might have been fiddled with a little, but no matter what arithmetic the courts use, including deducting excess votes or adding uncounted votes, APC will still keep Imo, and PDP, Bayelsa.

    Read Also: No more strike in varsities, Tinubu declares

    The sticky point still remains Kogi State where abominable politics and balloting took place. Kogi governor Yahaya Bello may have done enough to pocket Kogi Central senatorial district votes for his preferred candidate, but there is no moral or political justification whatsoever to present his hometown man to succeed him. Kogi East cast that ugly precedent in granite; now they are also reaping the benefits of unobtrusive unfairness. As indeed the trusting and seemingly conniving Kogi West voters will discover in four years’ time when they encounter the fickleness of Governor Bello and Governor-elect Usman Ododo, the incentive to be fair in Kogi hardly exists.

  • Coalition greets Kogi Governor-elect Ododo

    Coalition greets Kogi Governor-elect Ododo

    The coalition of some opposition Political Parties in Kogi State, led by the State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has congratulated the state’s governor-elect, Usman Ododo, and commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

    The NNPP State Chairman appealed to aggrieved parties to accept defeat and advises governor-elect Ododo to ensure an all-inclusive government.

    In the congratulatory and commendation message made available to the media in Lokoja on Wednesday, the state chairman of the NNPP, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar, urged aggrieved Kogites to accept defeat for the spirit of sportsmanship and the overall interest of the state.

    Suleiman hailed the security agencies and INEC for their conduct during the November 11 governorship election.

    Read Also: Yobe PDP lawmaker defects to APC

    NNPP called on all political leaders in the state to collaborate with the governor-elect and prioritize the peace and stability of the state above all other considerations.

    He commends the people of Kogi for the relatively peaceful governorship election, devoid of violence in most places.

    The NNPP Chairman and other members of the Coalition, comprising nine Political Party Chairmen, also commend President Bola Tinubu for his statesmanlike stance of non-interference in the electoral process.

    Ododo was declared the winner of the November 11 governorship election in Kogi state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday night.

  • Gov poll: Kogi youths storm INEC headquarters, back election outcome

    Gov poll: Kogi youths storm INEC headquarters, back election outcome

    Youths of Kogi State, on Wednesday, marched, to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in Abuja to declare utmost confidence in the umpire and affirm their support for the Governor-elect, Usman Ododo. 

    The indigenes, who warned mischief makers in the State, under the guise of opposition parties, to desist from blackmailing the INEC, said the good people of Kogi State “stand by the mandate given to the duly elected Governor, Usman Ododo”.

    They stressed that ethnic agenda had been nailed in the state and would not have a place again in its polity, and commended the good people of Kogi East who refused to be misled by those pursuing their own selfish interests at the expense of the collective good of the entire people of Kogi State. 

    The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ododo is Kogi Agenda”, “The people of Kogi have spoken on November 11”, “INEC, Kogi youths are saying thank you”, and “Kogi has decided”, among others, said they would continue to gather at the INEC headquarters for as long as those they described as “dubious politicians” continued their “evil misinformation”.

    One of the protesters, AbdulRahman Umar, said they were at the INEC headquarters to commend the authorities, including the security agencies for making the last election in the state the most peaceful and fairest in the history of Kogi State.

    “We will never allow criminals and election robbers go away with misinformation. We all have a voice in Kogi State and the voice of truth is always louder no matter how hard they try. We have spoken loudly on November 11, and we will continue to speak until we stamp out ethnicity in our dear state,” he said.

    Another lady protester, Asmau Idris, said Kogi indigenes were surprised when some people came out to say they were protesting against the INEC on Saturday’s election and decided to all come en masse to Abuja to truncate “the evil agenda”.

    Read Also: Kogi traditional rulers commend INEC, others, congratulate Ododo

    “They told us to come out and vote. We voted en masse for our choice. It was free and fair. What else do they want? We will tell them that we all own Kogi State. The Okuns are with us in this struggle; the Central are with us; and the Igalas are with us. Our mandate must be protected,” she said.

    Other youths and stakeholders of the state who spoke at the rally vowed to remain at the headquarters everyday for as long as the action was needed, stressing that Kogi State was united and not divided.

    INEC, last Sunday, declared Ododo Ahmed Usman of the All Progressives Congress as the Governor-elect of Kogi State, having won the governorship election with a wide margin and satisfied all requirements. He polled a total of 446,237 votes to defeat other candidates.

    Addressing the protesters, National Commissioner and Chairman, Security Committee of INEC, Maj. Gen. Modibbo Alkali (retd), appreciated their cooperation with the Commission and reiterated that the off-cycle elections conducted in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states were conducted fairly and credibly, in line with laid down guidelines.

  • Gov poll: Kogi APC demands arrest, prosecution of Dino Melaye

    Gov poll: Kogi APC demands arrest, prosecution of Dino Melaye

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has called on security agencies to immediately arrest the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Saturday’s Governorship election, Senator Dino Melaye, for alleged cyber crime he reportedly confessed to in a live television programme.

    The Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Council said, for Melaye, who was defeated at the polls, to have claimed on national TV that he had access to the back-end server of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) was “like walking into the prison yard and demanding to be locked up.”

    The Director, Media and Publicity/Spokesman of the Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo, who spoke at a “Thank You Press Conference” in Lokoja, the state capital, on Tuesday, said security agencies had no tedious job to do “on a suspect who confesses to a crime.”

    “Dino Melaye has openly confessed that he hacked into the back-end of the Independent National Electoral Commission. He should be arrested and prosecuted for cyber crime,” Fanwo said.

    He lambasted the former Senator for saying the INEC Chairman’s children should be ashamed of him, saying this was uncalled for, unethical and immoral.

    “Are Dino Melaye’s children proud of his shameless physical combats on the floor of the National Assembly? Are his children proud of the fact that their mother levelled allegations of physical injuries against their father? Are Dino’s children proud of him?

    “Dino Melaye was never in the race for the Governorship. The perennial contestant was in it for business and we do not see his allegations as anything more than the ranting of a thoroughly rejected political jobber.

    Read Also: Tinubu committed to improving lives of vulnerable communities – Shettima

    “We can’t beat a child and expect him not to cry. But we will be magnanimous in victory. Someone who claimed to have boycotted an election is here complaining about the conduct. He was not even at his Polling Unit to vote. How he got over 40,000 votes should be probed,” the party stated.

    “We call on our members to celebrate with moderation. We are one people and we must remain united as a people. The results of the election has shown that it is our party alone that believes in the unity of our dear state. We won the election and also the battle against those who wanted to drag our state to the dark ages of ethnic division. Kogites, this victory is yours and it will herald fresh air of consolidation and continuity,” it added.

    The APC thanked Kogi State for massively voting for its candidate, Usman Ododo, saying the resounding victory had strengthened the social contract between the All Progressives Congress and the people of Kogi State.

    “It has also upscaled the onus of responsibility on us to continue to provide first class schools, health institutions, road infrastructure and many others that the current administration in the state has been doing over the past 7 years and 9 months,” it said.

  • DG express confidence in Kogi Governor-elect

    DG express confidence in Kogi Governor-elect

    The Director General, Research and Development, Kogi State, Hon Moses Okezie-Okafor, has expressed confidence in the Governor-elect, Ahmed Usman-Ododo to move the state forward.

    Okezie-Okafor said he was confident that with his emergence, transformational leadership and good governance will continue uninterrupted in Kogi State.

    He noted that by working for their emergence as his preferred successors, Governor Yahaya Bello showed the confidence he has in them.

    “I am confident that Your Excellencies will not only continue and consolidate Governor Yahaya Bello’s signature legacies in every part of the State, but you will surpass them and take Kogi State to even greater heights,” he said.

    While congratulating the Governor-elect on his victory at the polls, he also lauded Governor Yahaya Bello and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the victory.

    In a statement made available to reporters, he said, “I extend my heartfelt felicitations to my principal, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, for leading our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to a decisive victory in the 2023 Kogi State Governorship Elections held over the weekend.

    “Once again, Your Excellency has charted new pathways in the evolution of collaborative democracy in Kogi State. Once again, your leadership has made positive political history.”

    Read Also; Kogi election results validate our reports, say YIAGA

    The Anambra State-born lawyer, a member of Governor Bello’s Cabinet, felicitated with the Governor-Elect and Deputy Governor-Elect, Joel Oyibo Salifu.

    He noted that by working for their emergence as his preferred successors, Governor Bello showed the confidence he has in them.

    He said he was confident that transformational leadership and good governance will continue uninterrupted in Kogi State.

    “I am confident that Your Excellencies will not only continue and consolidate Governor Yahaya Bello’s signature legacies in every part of the State, but you will surpass them and take Kogi State to even greater heights,” he said.

    Okezie-Okafor, who also congratulated the APC on its victory, noted that the party’s success over the last eight years is a testament to its governing prowess in Kogi State.

    “I am particularly proud of the new direction political family of Governor Yahaya Bello. Our collective hard work and dedication have been instrumental to this victory’, he said.

    The Director-General also commended the people of Kogi State for their political sagacity and commitment to voting for what matters to them.

    “The trending video of voters at a Polling Unit in Kogi West chanting ‘University! University!’ in cadence as their votes for the APC were being counted is my favorite footage from the elections, and will likely become one of the enduring footnotes of voter support for politicians who perform well,” he said.

    “Those voters were not only appreciating the torrents of democracy dividends which has flowed their way under the incumbent Yahaya Bello administration, including a new university at Kabba, but they were also tasking the incoming Governor, Ododo, to ensure he takes those legacies to next levels of excellence.

    “This is the real continuity and consolidation, and it is called ‘voting for your interests.’ It is safe to conclude that on November 11, the people of Kogi State voted for themselves,” he said.

    He expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for the APC’s victory and prayed for divine guidance to enable Governor Yahaya Bello finish strong and help the incoming administration perform well and beyond all expectations.

  • Imo, Kogi governorship polls: Uzodimma, Ododo triumph

    Imo, Kogi governorship polls: Uzodimma, Ododo triumph

    • INEC keeps Bayelsa’s leading candidate Diri in suspense
    • Achonu, Ajaka, Melaye reject elections outcome

    All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained control of two states in the weekend’s off-cycle governorship elections.

    The result of the third state is expected to be declared today.

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was declared the winner. He won in all the 27 local government areas (LGAs) to record a landslide victory.

    In Kogi State, Usman Ododo fought a hard battle to defeat his closest rival Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Ododo won in 12 LGAs out of 21. 

    Ajaka won eight and African Democratic Party (ADC) candidate Leke Abejide won one. 

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dino Melaye did not win in any LGA.

    In Bayelsa, Governor Duoye Diri is comfortably ahead with results from six of the eight LGAs declared yesterday. He won in five.

    The remaining two will be declared today and the winner announced.

    Some of those who lost in Imo and Kogi immediately rejected the results.

    Apart from Ajaka, Melaye, who declined to vote in the election, called for the cancellation of the results over alleged irregularities.

    Athan Achonu, the Labour Party (LP) candidate who came third in Imo, said he would challenge the outcome at the tribunal.

    Uzodimma was declared the winner after polling 540,308 votes.

    Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP got 71,503 votes, and Achonu polled 64,081 votes.

    A new chapter opened in the history of Kogi as Ododo clinched the coveted seat with 446,237 to defeat Ajaka, who scored 259,052.

    Abejide scored 21,819 votes and Melaye polled 46,362 votes.

    Chief Returning Officer for Kogi Poll, Prof. Johnson Urama, said the total valid votes were 782,289, rejected votes were 9,601 and total votes cast were 791,890.

    He explained that there would be no need for a fresh election in the nine wards in Ogori/Magongo Local Government in Kogi Central Senatorial District because the margin of lead is far above the number of PVCs collected in the area which he put at 16,247.

    A call by the agent of the SDP, Mr Ehimony David, that the collation be suspended to allow INEC to review irregularities allegedly observed in some parts of Kogi Central was rejected.

    “They do not affect the results significantly,” Prof. Urama said.

    A cursory look at the result showed that APC’s Ododo won 12 out of the 21 LGAs.

    The LGAs are Ijumu, Okene, Yagba West, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Mopa/Moro, Okehi, Bassa, Kabba/Bunnu, Kogi Koto-Karfe and Lokoja.

    Jubilation in Owerri

    There was jubilation in Owerri, the capital of Imo and other towns and villages yesterday, following Uzodimma’s victory.

    Owerri Metropolis erupted in excitement as INEC Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, declared him the winner at about 10.20 am.

    Many party supporters and indigenes stormed the Government House to rejoice with the governor.

    At the INEC office along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, APC supporters danced through the streets, clutching the party flags and brooms, chanting victory songs.

    They were joined by other excited supporters who stormed the area in convoys and marched from Port Harcourt Road through Bank Road, to Wetheral Road, Douglas and Okigwe roads

    A shop owner at the IMSU Junction, Darlington Opara, said he had expected the governor’s victory because of his boldness in tackling the challenges facing the state, particularly insecurity and infrastructure.

    He said: “I had always known that he would win. First, I voted for him because of his boldness in tackling insecurity. Imo would have been overrun by hoodlums.

    “So, I congratulate him and wish that he would focus on bringing Imo back to the good old days.”

    Uzodimma, who spoke at the Government House Chapel after Mass, said his reelection had vindicated him as the real winner of the 2019 poll.

    The governor thanked God and those who contributed to his victory, adding that the feat would spur him to more action in the service of Imo.

    Uzodimma said: “First, I thank the God Almighty for the victory and His goodness to all Imo citizens and for answering our prayers. Once you are with God, you fear not.”

    The governor thanked APC leaders and supporters for their extraordinary commitment before, during and after the election.

    Uzodimma thanked the state leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) for their resilience and for standing firm in the face of intimidation and resolve to undermine his government.

    He also thanked the National Campaign Council, led by the Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu, the Imo State APC Chairman, Macdonald Ebere, and other stalwarts who worked for the victory.

    He also thanked the civil servants for their support and show of love, assuring them that he would reciprocate their gesture.

    Uzodimma expressed gratitude to the traditional rulers and the State Council of Elders for their commitment to a united Imo State.

    He thanked the sole administrators of the 27 local government areas, saying that they made it possible for him to win.

    Uzodimma noted that it was the first time such a thing would happen in the history of the state.

    The governor commended the resilience of INEC, saying that its officials refused to be blackmailed.

    He said the electoral officers stood firm and did their job according to the law.

    Uzodimma also thanked the security agencies, who exhibited a high level of professionalism by ensuring proper coordination and synergy among themselves.

    He thanked his wife, Chioma, for her invaluable support, assuring everyone that he would do his best to be like the legendary former Imo governor, the late Sam Mbakwe.

    He said: “My heart is full of joy and I am grateful to all. My good people of Imo State, I am humbled and honoured by your overwhelming support in yesterday’s (Saturday’s) election.

    “Your trust in me to continue leading our dear state is both inspiring and deeply appreciated. 

    “Together, we have achieved a resounding victory and I am committed to delivering on the promises made during our campaign.

    “As we embark on the next level of ‘Shared Prosperity,’ rest assured that your interests will remain at the forefront of my administration.

    “I extend a hand to my fellow contenders from other parties, urging them to join me in a united effort to build and uplift our one and only dear state. 

    “In the spirit of inclusivity, we will operate a government that transcends political differences for the benefit of all.

    “I express profound gratitude to every member of my team, our great party and every citizen of Imo for your unwavering support. Our State is progressing because of your collective efforts.

    “I commend INEC and its officials for ensuring a fair and neutral electoral process.

    “I also appreciate the dedication of the security agencies in maintaining peace during the exercise.

    “A special thanks to the leader of our great party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his fatherly guidance throughout the electioneering period. 

    “Together, let us continue the journey towards a more prosperous and inclusive Imo.

    “Thank you, Ndi Imo, for your trust and confidence. Our shared future is bright and I am committed to leading us to greater heights.”

    Read Also: Melaye kicks as INEC declares Ododo Kogi Gov-Elect

    LP rejects results

    The Imo LP vowed to challenge Uzodimma’s victory in court, saying that the poll was marred by fraud.

    At a press conference in Owerri, its chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, said the electoral process was faulty and full of irregularities.

    He alleged that security operatives aided the electoral commission and APC to manipulate the poll in favour of the governor.

    The LP chairman said judging by the actual votes cast, its candidate, Achonu, won the election.

    He described the poll as a daylight robbery and a rape of the democracy adding that INEC produced results in places where there were no accreditation of voters.

    He said the election did not take place in most places in Orsu, Orlu, Ideato North, Okigwe, Oguta, and Owerri municipal, alleging that INEC, in collaboration with APC and security agents, wrote results.

    He also faulted the Returning Officer, Prof Fasina, for failing to address his petition before collating the results and returning Uzodimma as the winner.

    Ihejiagwa said: “ What happened in Imo State on Saturday was a sham. It was shameful how the security agents provided INEC staff and APC members the protection to rig the election.

    “From our records, our candidate, Senator Athan Achonu, won the election. We will challenge the announcement of Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the election in court. 

    “If anybody keeps quiet, of course, the Labour and our candidate won’t. We clearly won the election. We will retrieve our mandate in court.”

    Achonu called for a cancellation of the results of the polling units where there were “disturbing reports of hijacking of ballot boxes, other electoral materials and vote buying”.

    He said he received the reports of the malpractices in some polling units from his agents.

    The LP candidate made the demand while speaking to reporters in his hometown, Umunumo, in Ehime Mbano local government area.

    Achonu said his party had already written to INEC for requisite action and the cancellation of results emanating from the affected locations to ensure that fake results are not uploaded.

    He alleged: “In parts of Ideato, the process was characterised by ballot box snatching and all manners of irregularities, including intimidation of voters.

    “This is unacceptable. We have already written to INEC to take appropriate steps to ensure that fake results are not uploaded.” 

    He decried the “absence of security personnel in certain places around Orlu and Orsu,” while commending the military for turning up to save the situation in some other areas.

    Neither the state PDP leadership nor its candidate, Senator Anyanwu, had reacted to the outcome of the election.

    APC kicks as Diri coasts home to victory in Bayelsa

    Diri has so far won Kolokuma-Opokuma, Yenagoa, Ogbia, Sagbama and Ekeremor while his closest rival, Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC won Nembe.

    The collation was adjourned till noon today to announce results from Brass and Southern Ijaw – the two remaining LGAs. Sylva hails from Brass.

    INEC announced that there were issues with Brass and Southern Ijaw councils, adding that collation for some areas in Brass had been brought to Yenagoa.

    The commission added that in Southern Ijaw, the election continued in some wards yesterday morning.

    Diri has so far garnered 137,909 votes in the six LGAs announced to defeat Sylva, who polled 68,154 votes while Udengs Eradiri of the LP is trailing with 703 votes.

    The collation centre was charged following the protest by the APC agent, Dennis Otiotio, who complained that 27,968 votes scored by APC in Nembe were cancelled by the collation officers.

    He said acting on the directive of the REC, the LGA officer cancelled results collated in four wards of Nembe.

    Otiotio insisted that the officer acted illegally as he had no right to cancel results already collated at the units and wards of any local council already posted to the I-REV.

    He complained that the collation of all LGAs won by APC was moved to the INEC office in Yenagoa while areas won by the PDP were tabulated at the ward levels.

    Otiotio alleged that the disposition of the state collation officer suggested that he did not want the APC agent at the collation centre.

    But the Returning Officer, Prof. Kuta Farouk, took exception to the comments and clarified that he only wanted all agents to document their complaints, insisting that the centre had no power to resolve the issues.

    PDP’s agent, Chief Talford Ongolo, countered Otiotio, saying the REC had the power to cancel collated results in areas marred by violence, BVAS bypass and abduction of officials.

    Supporters, loyalists and members of the PDP stormed the INEC head office in their numbers to protest results from some LGAs where they claimed there was no election.

    They blocked the Swali Road leading to the INEC office to stop the commission from accepting the results of Nembe Bassambiri, which they claimed were manipulated.

    Bayelsa Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dambo Biriyai, (SAN), alleged that the election did not take place in Nembe Bassambiri.

    He called on REC, Mr Obo Effanga, and Southsouth Commissioner for INEC, May Agbamuche-Mbu, to reject the results.

    He claimed that PDP members, who visited their country home of Bassambiri, were prevented entry by the combined team of the police and APC thugs.

    The development led to the massive deployment of armed security operatives around the INEC office.

    Over four Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) belonging to the military and the police were used to block the entrance of the Swali Road.

    But the supporters of Diri kept vigil around the INEC office.

    Diri’s supporters danced to the song wafting from huge speakers installed in one of the governor’s campaign vehicles.

    Matters took a twist when a truck drove into the area with hundreds of plastic chairs for the fatigued protesters to sit down and continue to occupy the area.

    Despite the announcement that collation would continue the next day, the protesters, who were mainly youths, continued to occupy the road.

    Diri won his Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA, scoring 18,465 votes; Sylva got 5,349 while LP had 22.

    In Ogbia, the LGA of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Diri won with a small margin.

    The governor got 18,435 votes against Sylva, who polled 16,319 and Udengs Eradiri of the LP, who scored 57 votes.

    In Yenagoa, Diri won with a wide margin scoring 37,777 votes against Sylva, who got 14,534 and Eradiri, who polled 244 votes.

    In Sagbama, the council area of former Governor Seriake Dickson and Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewrujakpor, Diri won massively with 35,504 while Sylva got 6,600 and Eradiri 217 votes.

    But Sylva won his maternal Nembe Local Government Area with a wide margin of 22,248 while Diri got 4,556 and LP 113.

    But in Ekeremor, the LGA of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, the PDP Diri won with 23,172 to beat Sylva, who got 8,445 votes and LP that polled 50.

    Melaye rejects election results

    Rejecting the result, Melaye said: “The purported APC victory was a pure daylight robbery that cannot withstand democratic test in all measure.

    “Yesterday, in the five local governments of central Senatorial districts in Kogi State, there was no election.

    “Surprisingly accreditation was done manually, the BVAS was not used, prepared sheets manifested even before accreditation and evidence is all over media.

    “INEC as a matter of urgency must cancel the election. In many areas where I won, my agents were told there were no available result sheets to enter the result and we have evidence to back up these claims.

    “As I speak to you it is shameful that this is what our democracy has descended to.

    “INEC has manifested ever than before, that they cannot be trusted, they are biased, they are compromised and they cannot be neutral umpire.”

    He also alleged that INEC officials and youth Corps members were caught with prepared result sheets before the commencement of the process.

    According to him, a youth corps member was arrested with prepared results and N1 million. Melaye’s claim could not be verified.

    He said: “There was a deliberate suppression of my votes in Lokoja and Kogi LGAs. This was deliberately done by Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC to make sure that even with their orchestrated arrangement, I don’t come second.

    “Because they do believe that there will be a second ballot and they believe if there is a second ballot I have influence and tremendous support in the central and I can make an in road in the East. So, they preferred any other person to become second.”

    The Social Democratic Party candidate, Murtala Ajaka, won in eight LGAs of the state.

    The local governments are Dekina, Ankpa, Olamaboro, Omala, Ofu, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu and Ibaji.

    ADC’ candidate, Leke Abejide won Yagba East LGA while Melaye did not win any local government. 

    Ododo of APC emerged victorious in his local government of origin, Ijumu.

    There was a heavy security cordon in and around the INEC headquarters in Lokoja where the collation was done.

    Our correspondents, who monitored the collation and declaration of the results of the election, observed heavy deployment of security operatives.

    All the entry and exit points in and around the collation centre were barricaded with Armoured Personnel Carriers.

    Riot policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) men, with sniffer dogs, took position around the INEC office.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi State, Dr. Gabriel Longpet, had said collation of the results would commence at 10 a.m. yesterday.

    However, the collation centre was formally opened at 11 am.

    Longpet arrived at the centre alongside the REC for Rivers, Zamfara, Delta, Jigawa and Taraba states as well as the National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun.

    At the centre were Kogi State Commissioner of Police, NSCDC State Commandant, Director of DSS, election observers, journalists and party agents, among others.