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Tag: Usman Ododo

  • Ododo sworn in as 5th Kogi gov, appoints cabinet members

    Ododo sworn in as 5th Kogi gov, appoints cabinet members

    The winner of the 2023 governorship election Ahmed Usman Ododo has been sworn in as the 5th Executive Governor of Kogi State.

    Ododo took his oath of office as the state governor in Lokoja, the state capital on Saturday, following his November 11, 2023 victory.

    The new governor took over from his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, whose second term in office has elapsed.

    Ododo took the oath of office at exactly 2.30 p.m. administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Joseph Majebi.

    His deputy, Salifu Oyibo, also took his oath of office.

    Ododo won with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, who garnered 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party pulled 46,362 votes.

    Speaking shortly after receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, Ododo assured the people that he would make good his campaign promise to build on the sterling achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello while preserving the unity of the state.

    Ododo appreciated his predecessor, Bello, for putting him through the path of governance, as he promised not to disappoint the people of the state.

    The new governor presented an award of service – Grand Conference Silver Service Star, to Bello.

    The ceremony was held at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja in a colourful ceremony graced by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC Chairman, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje.

    Meanwhile, in an unprecedented decision, the newly sworn-in governor hit the ground running by nominating members of his Cabinet and other top aides on his first day in office.

    He announced the nomination of some Commissioners to be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for prompt confirmation as members of the State Executive Council (SEC) during his inaugural speech to the people of the State.

    The Commissioner-nominees were majorly members of the immediate-past administration of Governor Yahaya Bello. They include the former SSG, Folashade Ayoade Arike, Kingley Fanwo, Deedat Salami Ozigi, among other aides appointed with immediate effect.

     

  • Peaceful conduct of Kogi guber poll reflects Ododo’s acceptability – Akande

    Peaceful conduct of Kogi guber poll reflects Ododo’s acceptability – Akande

    The former Governor of Osun, Chief Bisi Akande has attributed the peaceful conduct of the  Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi  to  acceptability of the APC  candidate, Usman Ododo, by residents.

    Akande, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  made the remarks while receiving the Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Governor-Elect, Ododo, at his Abuja residence on Thursday.

    In a statement  in Lokoja by Bello’s Media Aide, Onogwu Muhammed, Akande, commended him for diligently overseeing the election, widely adjudged the most peaceful ever in Kogi.

    “I hereby wish to urge the governor-elect to stay true to his promises and commitments to the vehicle that conveyed him into office, ” the former governor said.

    Bello, had earlier said that they were in Akande’s residence to pay homage and introduce his successor, Ododo to him as a chieftain of the  APC

    He acknowledged the significant roles played by Akande before, during, and after the Nov. 11 governorship election in the state, where Ododo emerged as governor-elect.

    The governor assured residents and party stakeholders that the state’s governor-elect would fulfill his campaign promises to the people with increased development in the state.

    He also emphasised Ododo’s commitment to delivering on electoral pledges.

    According to him, the peaceful, free and fair election, attested to by both local and foreign observers,  reiterated his unwavering trust in Ododo.

    “Ododo’s, critical role as the former auditor-general of  Kogi local government areas,  provided insights into the grassroots’ needs.

    “I am very confident that Ododo will fulfill the promises of good governance and deliver democracy dividends to the people of Kogi.

    “Your excellency, remember when we were looking for ticket for our candidate for the Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi, we came to you for your wise counsel and support. You gave everything to us.

    “We have won that election, which is adjudged to be the most peaceful, freest and fairest election in recent times by both foreign and local observers.

    “Ododo is someone I have so much trust in to deliver good governance to the people of our dear state. He had  served in a very critical area of my administration, that is as auditor-general for local governments.”

    According to Bello, Ododo  feels the pulse of the people at the local government level and I am very confident that he will fulfill his promises of good governance and democracy dividends to our people.

    “Today, we are here to thank you and to further seek your kind guidance and prayers, ” he said.

    Also speaking, Ododo expressed gratitude to  Akande for his support and prayed for long life for the respected APC leader.

    The governor-elect commended Akande for his visionary leadership and uncommon wisdom in founding and nurturing the APC, known as the largest political party in Africa.

    He reiterated his commitment to fulfilling electioneering promises to the people of Kogi.

     

  • First Lady receives Kogi governor-elect

    First Lady receives Kogi governor-elect

    The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday received Alhaji Usman Ododo, the new Kogi Governor-Elect in her office at the Presidential Villa.

    The first lady, who welcomed Ododo with a handshake, congratulated Ododo on his victory at the recently concluded Nov. 11 gubernatorial election in Kogi.

    Ododo, who was accompanied by the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Bello Yahaya, told the State House Correspondents that the purpose of the visit was to thank the President’s wife for her support.

    He said President Bola Tinubu and the first lady had confidence in him and supported him to lead the people of Kogi under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “I have also come to thank Her Excellency for being a wonderful mother, for her support, guidance and for the trust she has in our mission to serve the people of Kogi State.

    “My boss and leader, Alhaji Bello, is well known to be gender sensitive, as you can see in Kogi today, most of the government appointees are women.

    “What we are coming to do is to consolidate his achievement and of course I am coming to build on his legacy, not to destroy it.

    Bello also commended the first lady for her prayers and advice, adding that he believed that his successor would continue from wherever he stoped.

    “Definitely Ododo is my worthy successor that the almighty has given the crown to be the governor as from Jan. 27, 2024.

    “In a simple term, what I am envisioning Kogi to be is just like what our president planted in Lagos to what Lagos is today.

    “In the next administration and nearest future, I envision Kogi to be trailing behind if not overtaking Lagos in terms of development; that is why we are emulating and following the footsteps of president Tinubu.’’

  • 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.

  • Kogi 2023: Speaker declares victory for APC

    Kogi 2023: Speaker declares victory for APC

    The Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Umar Yusuf, on Tuesday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has no any serious contender in the upcoming governorship election in the state.

    The Speaker made the declaration in an interview with assembly reporters in Lokoja, shortly after the House adjourned to Nov. 21 in order to prosecute the Nov. 11 governorship poll.

    Yusuf said: “In Kogi, there’s no other party as we made a statement loud and clear during our Sunday’s APC official flag-off campaign in Lokoja.

    “Let me even tell you, there is no other party contesting the governorship seat with us as long as this election is concerned.

    “The public need to know that the candidates of other parties are not serious; one of them is contesting so that he will be able to get money from friends and other people to maintain his lifestyle.

    “While the other one is using the party he belongs to whip sentiments for him to get appointment in our government. That is all.

    “I can tell you that they are not contesting. And there is no contest as far as this governorship election is concerned. We are going to win. We have won from the support we have right now in the state.

    “We have 22 APC members in the Assembly. We have everything for our people to believe in us. So we are good to go campaigning for Ododo with no panic, no stress at all.”

    Yusuf explained that the House adjourned to Nov. 21 to give members the leverage to stay with their parties and campaign for their parties as they participate fully in their activities.

    According to him, “it is the party that sponsored us to this place, so owe it a duty to go and support the party and usher in the new government”.

    He said they had people that God used to deliver them during their election on March 18 and that the same structure would be used to deliver Ododo 100 per cent on Nov. 11, by the special grace of God.

    On the the burnt assembly complex, the speaker expressed hope that the contractor handling its reconstruction would finish the project before their return on Nov. 21.

    He said: “We are of the belief that we shall resume plenary in the assembly complex when we return after the recession on Nov. 21.”

    During the plenary, the lawmakers screened a commissioner nominee, Alhaji Suleiman Bashir.

    The assembly also had first and second readings of seven Bills, including that of establishing Kogi Oil Producing Area Development Commission, and other matters.

  • Kogi APC guber candidate unveils primary school teacher as running mate

    Kogi APC guber candidate unveils primary school teacher as running mate

    The Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) Guber Candidate, Mr Usman Ododo, on Sunday unveiled a Primary School Teacher, Salifu Joel, as his running mate for Nov. 11 governorship election.

    The running mate is the current Chairman of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Treasurer of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kogi.

    Gov Yahaya Bello, who spoke at the event at the Government House, said that the choice of Mr Joel, a class teacher and unionist as the deputy governorship candidate of the APC, was borne out of the party’s desire to carry every body along in its quest for the development of the state.

    Bello assured that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the APC won the Nov 11 governorship election in the state.

    “APC will follow and abide by all the existing electoral laws to win the Nov 11 election, more so that my administration has performed creditably well in the areas of provision of infrastructure, quality education, healthcare delivery, among others.

    “We have shown competence, dedication and Commitment to Kogi people in terms of performance to also ask for their votes in the next governorship election.

    “In this dispensation, we won’t tolerate any politics of bitterness nor condone any act of political violence because Kogi as a state is bigger than any personal interest.

    “Politics of ethnicity, religion will never be a barrier and has no place in Kogi, therefore, you should desist from any comments that can put you in trouble tomorrow, ” he warned.

    Also, the State’s APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, congratulated the party’s guber candidate and his running mate, and commended the governor for providing good leadership to the party.

    He said it was ap and commendable, the choice of the running mate to Ododo, coming from a very critical section of the society as a teacher.

    Joel said: “I am short of words for me as a classroom teacher to be nominated as the running mate and deputy governor to the APC guber candidate.”

    “When I was first approached, from the bottom of my heart, I joyfully and heartily accepted the position, because it is divine.

    “I wish to assure that I will do all I could to ensure that our party becomes victorious in the forthcoming governorship election, ” Joel assured.

    In their goodwill messages, the National President of TUC, Mr Audu Anaba; Kogi NLC Chairman, Mr Gabriel Amari and the immediate past NLC Chairman, Edoka Onu; commended the governor for choosing one among the labour unions as Ododo’s running mate.

    They assured the governor of their total support to mobilise votes for Ododo/Joel ticket to ensure that they emerged the next Governor and Deputy Governor of Kogi State.