A FORMER Local Government Auditor-General in Kogi state, Usman Ododo, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The secretary of the National APC Governorship Primary Committee, Patrick Obahiagbon, declared Ododo winner of th party primary, which was held on Friday April 14.
Among those the winner defeated were the lawmaker representing Kogi West senatorial district Smart Adeyemi, who polled only 311 votes; Stephen Ocheni with 552 votes; and Sanusi Ohiere, who gathered 424 votes.
Obahiagbon said Ododo polled 78,704 votes out of the 93,729 registered votes across the 21 local governments in the state, defeating six other contestants in the primary, which was conducted via direct voting.
“I, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Secretary of the Election Committee Kogi State, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Governor Bello Matawale of Zamfara state, hereby declare that Ahmed Usman Ododo, having scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the direct primary election conducted on the 14th day of April, 2023 in Kogi State, is hereby declared as winner of the APC Kogi state primary election.
“He hereby returns as the duly elected governorship candidate of APC for the November 2023 governorship election,” he said.
Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello had announced Ododo as his preferred aspirant ahead of the party primaries.
Following the announcement, several aspirants voluntarily withdrew from the race, including Bello’s chief of staff, Abdulkareem Asuku; deputy governor of the state, Edward Onoja; and a former Commissioner for Finance, David Adebanji-Jimoh.
The deputy governor had been considered a leading aspirant in the pimaries, but withdrew from the race, leaving a terse message on his social media handles.
“To God be the glory for life and divine health. My appreciation to my leader, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello and all my supporters for your love and prayers. Let love, patience and perseverance lead. I am forever grateful,” Onoja noted.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.