By Andulkareem Haruna

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Usman Ododo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Kogi governorship election held on Saturday.

With a total of 446,237 votes, Ododo emerged victorious and has been officially declared the governor-elect.

The declaration was made by the chief returning officer at the INEC collation centre in Lokoja on Sunday at approximately 10:24 p.m.

According to reports from PREMIUM TIMES, Ododo secured victories in 13 out of the 21 local government areas in the state. The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Ajaka, was declared the runner-up with a total of 259,052 votes and won in eight local governments.

Dino Melaye, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured the third position with 46,362 votes but failed to win in any local government.

A total of 18 candidates participated in the election.

However, INEC’s earlier announcement of supplementary elections in polling units with irregularities has been rendered invalid by Sunday’s declaration.