Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerges victorious in the November 11, 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election. The State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, declares Ododo the winner with 446,237 votes, surpassing Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ododo secures triumph in more than half of the 21 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, while concerns raised by Melaye over “filled result sheets” in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area lead to the suspension of the election in nine wards.
INEC announces fresh polls in 59 polling units on November 18, contingent on the Returning Officer’s determination of the Margin of Lead Principle.
Despite these developments, both Melaye and Ajaka reject the election outcome, alleging collusion between INEC, security agencies, and the APC in Kogi. The dispute adds a layer of contention to the electoral process, with ongoing concerns and objections from the opposition candidates.
