His stand was that the primary election, which produced Ododo ran foul of Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution and also contrary to Section 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act, as well as Article 20 of the APC constitution. He is in court challenging the emergence of Ododo as APC candidate. Party sources said Adeyemi’s continued silence has been a source of concern to Ododo and Kogi APC. However, the decision did not go down well with some party leaders from Kogi West, notably Senator Adeyemi, one of the aggrieved participants in the disputed APC governorship primaries. This did not happen, as Ododo, another Ebira, got Bello’s nod as APC flagbearer. The Okuns have been agitating that after eight years rule of the Ebira power should shift to them. The failure of the anticipated power shift arrangement in the APC’s choice of candidate is still a factor in the campaign. Smart Adeyemi’s factor and aftermath APC primaries

Some prominent politicians, who used to call the shots in the PDP, lately have been falling over themselves in wide endorsement of the APC candidate. Ododo may also have the incumbency factor working in his favour, as he is counting on the overwhelming support of Governor Bello, political office holders and APC structures across the three senatorial districts, as well as the anticipated Federal might.Īt the last count, his camp has won more converts from the main opposition PDP, especially from Kogi West. No other political party has fielded a candidate from that zone, which accounted for half of the winning votes for the APC in the 2019 election. He is believed to be comfortable in Kogi Central, his homestead, where he is the sole candidate.

Also, in contention from Kogi West is the young, vibrant entrepreneur, Olayinka Braimoh of the Action Alliance (AA).Īlthough Alhaji Muri Ajaka, who represents the Social Democratic Party (SDP), is one of the seven candidates from Kogi East (Igala/Bassa), he is widely regarded as the ‘consensus’ candidate from the zone.Īfter eight years rule of his kinsman, Governor Yahaya Bello, Alhaji Usman Ododo, the APC candidate from Kogi Central, is treading the path of a possible additional eight years rule of the Ebira. The district also has a strong contender in Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), whose party clinched two of the three Federal Constituencies in Kogi West and a seat in the Kogi State House of Assembly at the February/March polls. From the outcome of the governorship primaries held in April, this year, the race has devolved into ethnic contest with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) producing Alhaji Usman Ododo, from Kogi Central Senatorial District, which has the Ebira, as the dominant ethnic group, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket went to Senator Dino Melaye of Okun ethnic group of Kogi West Senatorial District.

No thank you game wineskin