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APC Ticket: Yahaya Bello’s Kingsman, Ododo, Defeats Adeyemi, Abubakar, 4 Others

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The Kingsman of the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and former Auditor General of local government in the state, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo on Saturday morning, picked the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has been declared the winner of the governorship primary election.

Ododo is an Igbira man just as the present governor Yahaya Bello and their tribe waited for decades before finally having one of their own to occupy the government house because of their population.

As it stands now, the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello may not want a power shift from their area to the Kogi West, an area the stakeholders agreed should produce the next governor.

But the voting population is in Kogi East, the Igala speaking people who also have the large population of the state.

But the APC primary election which was conducted via direct mode, took place in the 239 wards across the 21 local government areas of the state.

External observers , party members and supporters who spoke with our reporter, described the conduct of the primary election as one of the most peaceful, rancour free in the history of Kogi state.

Ododo pulled seventy eight thousand , seven hundred and four (78, 704) votes to defeat the other four contestants.

Announcing the outcome of the primaries at the State Secretariat of APC on Saturday morning, the Secretary of the National APC governorship primary election committee, Hon. Patrick Obahiaghon said total number of registered voters was 93,729 while 83,419 was numbersl of accredited voters.

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He said Shaibu Abubakar Audu scored 763 votes, Stephen Ikani Ocheni a former minister of state pulled 552 votes, the former Executive Director Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Dr Sanusi Ohiare scored 424 votes while Smart Adeyemi the current Senator representing Kogi west has the least score of 311 votes.

Speaking further, the Secretary of the committee said Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu pulled 1,159 votes, Salami Momodu Ozigi scored 1,506 votes and Ahmed Usman Ododo pulled the highest votes of 78,704.

Declaring Ododo the winner of the election, Hon Patrick Obahiaghon said the election was conducted in the 21 local government areas of the state and the result have been collated peacefully from all the returning officers in charge of the election.

“By the power conferred on the committee by virtue of article 19 of the APC guidelines for the nomination of candidate for general election 2003, I Hon Patrick Obahiaghon Secretary of election committee Kogi state on behalf of the Chairman of the committee Governor Bello Matawale of Zamfara state hereby declared 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 (Ahmed Usman Ododo) hereby returns as the duly elected governorship candidate of APC for the November 2023 governorship election,” he said.

Politics

SDP condemns Kogi govt’s ban on rallies

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has condemned the ban on political rallies and convoys imposed by the state government.

State Chairman of SDP, Mr Ahmed Attah, issued the condemnation in a statement signed by the SDP Press Secretary, Isaiah Ijele, on Tuesday in Lokoja.

The party described the ban as an attack on democratic principles and a blatant attempt to silence opposition voices.

Attah urged Gov. Ahmed Ododo to learn from the past and avoid repeating old, harmful practices that have hindered the state’s progress.

“The party views this action as an attempt to suppress the freedom of association and movement enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Attah insisted that the state is not at war and urged the government to focus on development instead of engaging in political manoeuver.

He warned that Kogi must not return to the dark days of repression, particularly against the opposition. (NAN)

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How mega opposition coalition can defeat Tinubu in 2027 election —Ex-presidential candidate

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The Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, has said the only unity and emergence of a strong candidate could secure victory for the coalition of opposition leaders in 2027.

Onovo, an activist and Head of Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the recent announcement of an opposition coalition to challenge the All progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.

Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,
Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo,

“The coalition of opposition leaders needs a candidate that is vigorous; a strong candidate to brighten its chances in 2027. The coalition needs somebody with a clear agenda and a clear vision.

“The opposition needs a candidate with a strong background of integrity. Nobody is perfect, but you need a strong background of integrity.

“The opposition needs somebody who is morally and mentally competent, and physically fit. The opposition does not need the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any old person if it wants to win.

“The opposition doesn’t need any old person now. It is time to use the energy of the young.

“They must present a strong candidate, who is strong morally, mentally, and physically, with a clear patriotic agenda to move the country forward, ” Onovo said.

He added that the coalition had a lot that could work to its advantage in 2027 and urged members to work with unity of purpose to achieve convincing victory.

Also speaking on chances of the ruling party in 2027, the politician said APC could remain in power if the challenges arising from subsidy removal and other economic issues were addressed by the present administration.

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He also said President Bola Tinubu still had the opportunity to address the security challenges in the country to win in 2027 ,and remain in power ,if interested

Onovo, who noted that he was not part of the organisers of the mega coalition, said that he had always been part of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) since 2019 elections.

He called on all Nigerians to unite for the development of the country, ensuring leadership that would fulfill the country’s aspirations.

NAN recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had recently announced the formation of a coalition, aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja, attended by several opposition politicians, including former APC members.

Among those present at the even were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. (NAN)

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APC grants Governor Otu automatic ticket for 2027 election

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Monday granted Gov. Bassey Otu and his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, an automatic ticket for the 2027 general election.

Speaking at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, the party’s Chairman, Mr Alphonsus Eba, urged other party members aspiring for political positions to begin their consultations.

Eba clarified that apart from the governor and his deputy, no other individual had been given an automatic ticket by the party.

He encouraged other aspirants to return to their constituents and seek their support ahead of the elections.

“The State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee of APC met today and resolved that Governor Otu will be the party’s sole candidate in 2027,” he said.

He explained that the decision was based on the principle of continuity, stating, “Nobody changes a winning team. The governor and his deputy will fly the party’s flag in 2027.”

He added that even if Otu was reluctant to run, the party would still present only one ticket with his name, as was done in 2022.

“We appeal to him to listen to the desires of party members and accept the nomination,” Eba stated.

He also praised the deputy governor, currently acting as governor, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers.

Eba noted that some individuals had misrepresented the state’s position. He commended the acting governor for clarifying that South-South governors had not consulted him before opposing Tinubu’s decision.

He applauded the President for restoring peace in Rivers, preventing a political crisis. (NAN)

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