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Tag: Kogi State

  • INEC declares Ododo winner of Kogi governorship election

    INEC declares Ododo winner of Kogi governorship election

    Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has won Saturday’s off cycle governorship election in Kogi State.

    Ododo polled 446,237 votes to beat his closest rival, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu-Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052 votes in the keenly contested election.

    The INEC Returning Officer Prof. Johnson Ugamadu, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who declared the result of the election at the Collation Centre, Lokoja, said that the total valid votes cast was 782,289 out of the 791,890 total votes cast during the election, which recorded 9,601 rejected votes.

    “Usman Ododo of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law by scoring the majority of the votes cast in the Nov. 11 off-cycle governorship election, is hereby returned elected,” Ugamadu declared.

    The APC candidate won in 13 LGAs, including Okehi, Ogori-Magongo, Ajaokuta, Okene, Mopamuro, Kabba-Bunu, Adavi, Yagba West, Yagba East, Lokoja, Kogi/Koton-Karfe, Bassa and Ijemu.

    Also Yakubu-Ajaka of the SDP on the other hand won in Dekina, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Ankpa, Idah and Ibaji Local Government Areas.

    Speaking to newsmen shortly after the results were announced, the Agent of SDP, Mr Ohemoyi David, expressed disappointment in the way and manner INEC went ahead to announce the result in spite of some abnormalities witnessed during the election.

    “We have written a petition to INEC on the election, yet it went ahead to announce the result even when it has pledged to conduct supplementary election in some LGAs on Nov. 18.

    “We shall definitely challenge this action in Court,” David said.

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi expressed gratitude to the residents for giving Ododo the opportunity to take over from him on Jan. 27, 2024.

    He also thanked INEC, security operatives, CSOs and the media for seeing that the election was a success.

    He assured the public that Ododo would not fail the state in continuing with the development efforts to transform the state.

    Ododo, in smile, thanked the people for counting him worthy to lead them in the next phase of leadership.

    The governor-elect declared himself as “the people’s servant”, who is ready to serve them faithfully for the growth and development of Kogi.

  • BREAKING: INEC to conduct fresh elections in Kogi next Saturday

    BREAKING: INEC to conduct fresh elections in Kogi next Saturday

  • BREAKING: APC raises alarm of plots to truncate will of Kogi people

    BREAKING: APC raises alarm of plots to truncate will of Kogi people

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm of plots by agents and supporters of trailing opposition parties to truncate the will of the people of Kogi State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the APC raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday as results are being collated at the State collation centre.

    The APC statement reads: “With the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo, coasting to spectacular victory in Saturday’s Kogi Guber election, we call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protect the integrity of the legitimate votes of the Kogi electorate.

    “Announced and uploaded results, so far, show our Candidate maintaining a landslide lead in Kogi West and Central, with a competitive showing in Kogi East.

    “We are keenly aware of intense pressure, including violent threats on INEC staff, by agents and supporters of trailing opposition parties aimed at unduly influencing or disrupting ongoing collation of results in the state.

    “We urge INEC to stand fast in discharge of its constitutional duty to deliver free, fair and credible election in the state, and ensure that the freely exercised will of the Kogi electorate prevails.

    TNG reports INEC, has, meanwhile, suspended collation of election results until 4:00 pm as results from three local government areas are being awaited.

  • BREAKING: INEC suspends election in Kogi LGA

    BREAKING: INEC suspends election in Kogi LGA

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended elections in nine wards of Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC cited the incidents of electoral malpractices, particularly the incident of result sheets completed before voting in suspension of the election.

    In a statement on Saturday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner & Member Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, the commission disclosed incidents in other Local Government Areas of Kogi are being investigated.

    The Commission assured voters in Kogi State that their votes are protected, and their wishes will be respected.

    The statement reads: “The Commission has received reports from our officials in Kogi State on incidents of electoral malpractices, particularly the incident of result sheets completed before voting.

    “Reports indicate that the incidents occurred in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene Local Government Areas. The most serious incidents occurred in Ogori/Magongo, affecting nine of 10 Registration Areas.

    “This is entirely unacceptable. Any result not emanating from the Commission’s process in the Polling Units will not be accepted.

    “The Commission is determined not to reward bad behaviour. Consequently, the election in the nine Wards in Ogori/Magongo LGA (Eni, Okibo, Okesi, Ileteju, Aiyeromi, Ugugu, Obinoyin, Obatgben and Oturu) is at this moment suspended.

    “The incidences in the other Local Government Areas are being thoroughly investigated, and the outcome, including the way forward, will be announced in the next 24 hours.

    “Meanwhile, as the processes continue, we follow the audit trail of personnel and materials to ascertain those who may have been complicit in undermining the process.

    “We have a record of all officials deployed at various levels as supervisors, monitors, technical staff or polling unit officials and all election materials issued to them. Appropriate sanctions will be applied where necessary.

    “The Commission assures voters in Kogi State that their votes are protected, and their wishes will be respected”.

  • INEC alleges sabotage in Kogi guber poll

    INEC alleges sabotage in Kogi guber poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed some unseen forces for late arrival of officials and election materials in some polling units for Saturday’s Kogi governorship election.

    The State INEC Voter Education and Publicity Officer, Mr Haliru Sule, said this in an interview in Lokoja on Saturday.

    “As an election umpire, INEC made adequate preparations for this off circle governorship election, yet we still experienced some hitches here an there.

    “To us these hitches are deliberate sabotage by some unseen forces.

    “We didn’t expect the sudden dearth of vehicles that could transport our Adhoc staff and materials to heir respective polling units.

    “But all the same, we tried our best and over came the challenges, which gave room for smooth and peaceful conduct of the election,” he said.

    He added: “We are confident that at the end of the exercise, it would be said that it was free, fair, credible and successful.

    “We are appreciative of the efforts of the security operatives at giving our personnel and the electorates adequate security cover for a peaceful and successful election.”

  • Counting of votes begins in Kogi governorship election

    Counting of votes begins in Kogi governorship election

    Counting of votes has begun in most polling units in Lokoja, at the end of voting by accredited voters in the Kogi State governorship election.

    In polling unit 065 ward A, Sabon Gari, INEC officials and party agents were seen counting the votes, after sorting them out party by party.

    The story was the same at the polling unit 067 ward A, Kogi Hotel Tourism Board, counting was undoing.

    At polling unit 012 ward A, Crowder Memorial College, counting was yet to begin as officials were still sorting out the votes.

  • BREAKING: Dino Melaye wins own polling unit

    BREAKING: Dino Melaye wins own polling unit

    Senator Dino Melaye, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the ongoing Kogi State governorship election has won his own polling unit.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Melaye’s polling unit is the open space at Iluafon quarters in Aiyetoro of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi.

    While PDP polled 210 votes at the polling unit, the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled a total of 22 votes, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 7 votes.

    At the polling unit, People’s Redemption Party (PRP) polled 2 votes, Social Democratic Party (SDP) polled 1 vote, National Rescue Movement (NRM) polled 1 vote and Action Democratic Party (ADP) polled 1 vote.

    Similarly, candidates of the PDP, Governor Douye Diri and Samuel Anyanwu in Bayelsa and Imo States, respectively have all won their polling units.

    At the Amaimo Central School, Amaimo Ward, Ikeduru LGA of Imo, Anyanwu of the PDP polled 122 votes while the APC polled 2 votes.

    In Bayelsa, at Sampou/Kalama Ward in Kolokuma/Opokuma LG the APC polled 0 vote, the ADP polled 1 vote, the Labour Party polled 0 vote while the PDP polled 218 votes.

    Meanwhile, official results are being awaited in the ongoing elections. At the time of filing this report 14.62% of votes have been uploaded for Kogi, 24.15% for Bayelsa, and 27.47% for Imo on the results viewing portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

  • Guber Polls: Alleged ballot box snatcher shot dead in Kogi

    Guber Polls: Alleged ballot box snatcher shot dead in Kogi

    A man alleged to be a ballot box snatcher in the Anyigba Local Government Area of Kogi State was  on Saturday gunned down as he attempted to snatch ballot box while voting was still ongoing.

    The deceased’s identity and the political party he worked for remained unconfirmed as at the time of filing this report.

    Details surrounding whether the individual was shot down by security agents or other unidentified assailants remain unclear.

    The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) reported the incident on its official account, stating that the alleged leading political party thug was shot in an attempt to disrupt the election by snatching the ballot box in Anyigba LGA, Kogi State.

    Guber elections is taking place across three states today, November 11, namely:  Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States.

  • Kogi guber: No security escort for VIPs to polling units – Police

    Kogi guber: No security escort for VIPs to polling units – Police

    The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Kogi Governorship Election, Mr Habu Sani, says no security personnel is allowed to accompany VIPs to polling unit during Saturday’s election.

    The DIG said this in a statement by the state police public relations officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya in Lokoja.

    “On no account should any security personnel attached to VIPs, Political and Public Officers or any personality across the state will be allowed to move or escort their Principals during the period of restrictions of vehicular movement.

    “Any officer, who is caught violating this order by accompanying any VIPs, Political and Public Officers or any other personality to the polling unit will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.

    “Therefore, VIPs, political and public officers that will vote should take note of this order so as to avoid any embarrassment that might befall them.

    “This is because the police and other security agencies will not allow any security breach during the period of the election,” he said.

  • Election: EFCC deploys personnel to prevent vote buying in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo

    Election: EFCC deploys personnel to prevent vote buying in Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed its personnel to monitor the Saturday’s governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said in a statement on Friday in Abuja that the aim of the deployment was to prevent politicians and their agents from engaging in vote buying during the elections.

    Oyewale said that the exercise was part of the commission’s drive to checkmate electoral fraud and associated financial crimes.

    “The  monitoring operations are to tackle any form of voter’s inducement through vote buying, vote selling and other manipulations of the electoral processes at variance with the Electoral Act,” he said.

    Oyewale said that the exercise was introduced as part of the efforts by the commission to rid the nation’s electoral system of corrupt practices.

    He reiterated the commission’s determination to ensure that corrupt practices were not part of the country’s electoral process.