Lokoja, Kogi state – The Kogi state governorship election is on Saturday, November 11, 2023. It is arguably the most anticipated off-cycle poll.
According to Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Kogi governorship election will be contested alongside the contests in Imo and Bayelsa states. The current Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, is expected to leave office on January 27, 2024. He is in his second term in office.
Dino Melaye, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and others battle for the coveted seat at the Government House, Lokoja. Photo credits: Alhaji Ahmed Usman OdodoSource: Facebook
Kogi election: How winner will emerge
The winning candidate must secure the majority of the vote and at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of the local government areas (LGAs). Kogi state has 21 LGAs.
Results would be announced by INEC at a state collation centre.
Leaders and chieftains of the leading parties are optimistic and have boasted about their chances of winning the November poll.
1) Alleged ploy of governance by proxy
Some opposition members believe Governor Bello, is seeking a third term through a proxy.
Bello is backing his party, the APC’s candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, to succeed him. However, Ododo’s opponents believe the incumbent governor is tacitly trying to remain in power through Ododo.
2) Antagonism from disgruntled APC governorship hopefuls
APC candidate, Ododo, a former auditor-general for local government in Kogi state, enjoys the advantage of being the only candidate from the central senatorial district. He also has the support of Governor Bello and his party (the APC), which is Nigeria’s governing party.
He is, however, faced with opposition from some members of his party who lost out in the primaries.
3) APC candidate not from largest voting bloc
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka — and not APC’s Ododo — comes from the region with the highest number of voters and population, the eastern senatorial district.
Kogi East (Igala Kingdom) is the stronghold of Ajaka, who some ‘Kogites’ consider one of the likely winners.
4) PDP’s capability in Kogi
The capability of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to wrest power from the APC cannot be discountenanced.
Since the nation returned to democratic rule in 1999, the PDP has been in power in Kogi four times, while the APC has steered two successive administrations (Governor Bello’s). When their stalwarts (APC) fancy their chances, they are not fantasising.
The PDP candidate is Dino Melaye, a former house of representatives member, ex-senator, and spokesperson of the defunct Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign.
Kogi: Story about favouritism untrue, INEC
INEC said the allegation that three of its staff are currently “maliciously reconfiguring the BVAS machines in the Government House in Lokoja” is “untrue”.
BVAS is the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, an innovation introduced by INEC to guarantee credible elections in Nigeria.
“Ododo is the chosen one”: Ikuru
AmbaJay also reported that the Founder of the Jehovah’s Eye Salvation Ministry, Prophet Godwin Ikuru, said Ododo is God’s choice.
Making a prediction ahead of the off-cycle poll, Prophet Ikuru dashed the hope of Senator Melaye and other contestants.
“Don’t waste your time”, Dalung to aspirants
A former minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung, faulted the integrity of elections conducted by INEC.
Dalung said “INEC can just sit in their office and declare a winner”.
Even though defeated parties are challenging electoral results, Dalung alleged that “the judgement of the election tribunal is that INEC cannot be held accountable”.
