Today is the big day when Kogi State citizens cast their ballots to choose a new governor.
Because of its ethnic colouring, political analysts unquestionably claim that this election is the most terrifying in Kogi State’s history.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 1,833,160 voters in Kogi State are expected to cast ballots.
Because it is so difficult to forecast the outcome due to the political climate, the election is full of surprises.
It is quite hard to forecast given the peculiar course of events that resulted in the defeat of opposition candidates in the election held in February 2023.
Even if the main candidates have their areas of support where they are anticipated to receive a large number of votes, it is possible that they will not receive a significant number of votes outside of these areas due to unanticipated events.
Kogi East held control in Kogi State until 2016, when Governor Yahaya Bello took office as the state’s fourth democratically elected governor.
The late Prince Abubakar Audu (1992–1993 and 1999–2003), Alhaji Ibrahim Idris Ibro (2003–2011), and Capt. Idris Ichala Wada (2011–2015) were the first and second in line.
The other ethnic groups’ desire for power transfer intensified as a result, as they had long complained about being marginalised by the State.
After Prince Abubakar Audu passed away, other ethnic groups in Kogi West anticipated that after eight years of the current administration, it would be their turn to govern Kogi State. Therefore, the appointment of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as governor soon after marked a relief.
But in all of this, some commentators have charged that Governor Bello is pushing for a third term by endorsing his cousin Ahmed Usman Ododo, the APC candidate running for governor in his place.
At the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) grand finale, Senator Dino Melaye, the party’s governorship candidate, urged the Kogi people to work with him to thwart the current administration’s purported goal for a third term.
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Melaye argued that by endorsing APC candidate Ahmed Ododo for governor, Governor Bello was surreptitiously vying for a third term in office, evading legal and constitutional restrictions.
Melaye claims that in order to guarantee his own ineligibility to run for a third consecutive term, Governor Bello is masterminding the political charade in order to maintain his power and influence over the state.
Melaye continued by emphasising that, should Ododo win the election, he would only be a figurehead, with Governor Bello operating as the real puppet master.
“Never believe that Yahaya Bello isn’t running for office. Although Yahaya Bello is running for a third term through a proxy, Ododo is the one who is actually on the ballot, he added.
Senator Melaye maintained that on January 27, 2023, his performance in Kogi State will bring him to the Lugard residence.
“The PDP has lost this election because to poor management, destitution, unpaid salaries and gratuities, the lack of financial support for promotions, and numerous other issues. The people of Kogi State are dissatisfied because they believe a messiah would deliver them from slavery.
“Here we are, send us,” say Dino Melaye and Habiba. I would especially like to exhort our local government chairmen—you have all taken on the role of evangelists and imams—to urge our citizens to cast ballots.
“The APC has instilled dread in the minds of the people, which is why our people are terrified. As Dino Melaye, I assure you that neither Yahaya Bello nor the APC frighten me,” he declared.
Without a doubt, the former lawmaker from Kogi will receive sympathy votes from his relatives in Kogi West, who are eager to experience holding the presidency for the first time in their history. However, he will face opposition from people like Leke Abejide of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) and Olayinka Braimoh of the Action Alliance (AA), who is currently a member of the house of representatives.
Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, a leading candidate for the governorship from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has publicly charged the current government with advancing ethnic agendas.
Ajaka is certain that his popularity will help him win the election, despite the government’s denial of the assertion and its baselessness. He maintains that Governor Bello has failed Kogi State.
Conditions in Kogi State are peaceful.
Ahead of today’s election, Kogi State is in a relatively tranquil state of affairs. The Daily Post noted that security personnel are present throughout the State’s innards.
Still circling the state capital and its surroundings is a police helicopter bearing the registration number 5N-GEJ.
