4 Facts to know about Usman Ododo, winner of Kogi 2023 governorship election
Ahmed Usman-Ododo, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi state, has been declared the winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Legit.ng journalist Bada Yusuf is an accomplished politics and current affairs editor, boasting over seven years of experience in journalism and writing.
Ododo garnered 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052. Coming third is Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 46,362.
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How Ododo clinches APC governorship ticket
Usman-Ododo, now the governor-elect, defeated his opponents in the 2023 governorship election in Kogi state. He appeared unpopular before the APC primaries at the state level, but he surprisingly emerged winner and became the party's flagbearer.
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At the APC primary, the Usman-Ododo defeated the likes of Shaibu Audu, Stephen Ochen, Sanusi Ohiare, and Smart Adeyemi to emerge as the candidate for the ruling party.
The APC adopted direct primary, and the unpopular Ododo garnered 78,704, Audu polled 763, Ochen got 552, Ohiare scored 424, and Adeyemi polled 311 votes.
Ododo is the anointed candidate of Governor Yahaya Bello
What is obvious in the emergence of Ododo as the APC flagbearer is that he is the preferred candidate of Governor Yahaya Bello and he worked out the mathematic for the governor-elect.
Bello was instrumental when his deputy, Edward Onoja, and chief of staff, Pharm. Mohammed Asuku, Pharm. Mohammed Asuku, stepped down for Ododo during the primary.
Former positions held
According to The BBC Pidgin, the governor-elect is the former auditor-general for Kogi state.
His political strength began to gather when he became a member of the Kogi state internal revenue service under Governor Bello's administration.
Ododo is a one time member of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, a one time special assistant to Governor Bello and served as the chairman for the Kogi State Youth Council.
Academic background
The governor-elect studied accounting at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He also hold master degree in business administration and he is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Grassroot Mobilisation
Speaking with Legit.ng on the feat achieved by the governor-elect, a security and public affairs analyst, Chukwuka Ofoegbu, also known as Ijele Speaks, said Ododo deployed grassroot mobilisation in his capaigns.
According to the analyst, the APC candidate used the strategy to knock out the SDP candidate who campaigned on hate and the PDP candidate who did not gain full support from his party.
He said:
"The incumbent was observing and wriggling his hands as events were unfolding. While the SDP candidate relied on a campaign of hate and division to garner the votes, he went to work and carried out an aggressive grassroots mobilisation."
Kogi: Power of the tongue, other factor that worked against Dino, PDP
Legit.ng earlier reported that Dino Melaye, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, November 11, governorship election in Kogi state, was defeated in the poll in a manner that was surprising to many.
Melaye was a former House of Representatives Member and a former Senator from Kogi West. Some political observers expected his experience and exposure to make him a strong contender for the election.
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Source: Legit.ng
