Mr. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 Kogi State governorship election, has been declared the winner.
Mr Ododo received a total of 446,237 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who received 259,052 votes. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dino Melaye came in a distant third place with 46,362 votes.
Professor Johnson Urameh, who has returned to the polls office, issued a formal statement around 10:25pm on Sunday night.
Reports has it that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier contemplated declaring the exercise inconclusive following electoral irregularities in some locations in the state, particularly Ogori Magongo local government area, where the exercise was suspended.
Following the suspension of the November 11 governorship election in some locations in Kogi State where result sheets were pre-recorded before the commencement of voting exercise, INEC had said that fresh elections might be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, in the affected Polling Units of nine wards in Ogori Magongo LGA of the State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday evening by INEC National Commissioner and member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
The electoral umpire, however, said the contemplated fresh elections were subject to the determination of the application of the Margin of Lead Principle by the Returning Officer for the governorship election exercise.
The earlier contemplated rerun was to allow 15,136 voters to cast their votes on a new date but with the margin of lead between Ododo and other contestants surpassing 15,136, the APC candidate was consequently declared winner and governor-elect of Kogi State.
