Yahaya Bello: to be declared governor – elect

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Mr Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Kogi governorship election.

Bello scored 247,762 votes to defeat the incumbent Governor, Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 204,877 votes.

The Returning Officer of the governorship election, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, declared the results in Lokoja after the conclusion of the supplementary election held in 91 polling units.

He said the results were a merger of the election held on Nov. 21 and the supplementary poll conducted in 91 polling units on Dec. 5.

“The results of the supplementary election shows that the APC scored 6,885 votes, while PDP got 5,363 votes.

“Only 13,000 out of the 49,000 registered voters expected to vote in the supplementary election turned out for accreditation and voting,” he said.

Kucha said out of the 494,723 votes cast during the exercise, only 21,740 were invalidated.

The returning officer described the election as peaceful and successful.

Mr Mumuni Okara, agent of the APC at the collation centre, described the results as satisfactory, saying that the declared results tallied what the party’s agents had obtained from the various polling units.

Capt. Joe Agada (rtd), who represented the PDP at the collation centre, however, said his party would challenge the results at the tribunal .

All the party agents present signed the result sheets

The collated results had shown that the  PDP opponent, incumbent Governor Idris Wada failed to cover grounds as the APC extended the 41,353 vote lead recorded two weeks ago.

The 40-year old Bello replaced Prince Abubakar Audu, the original candidate of the APC, who died, same day, the 21 November election was declared inconclusive by INEC. The umpire ordered fresh election in 91 polling units spread across 19 local governments. The councils are Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Ida, Igala-Mela, Okehi, Odohun, Ijimu, Kabba/Bunu, Lokoja, Ofu, Olamaboro, Okene, Omala and Yagba West and Kogi Kodokafi.

Here are the collated results:
Okene Local Government: Registered voters – 676; Accredited voters – 217; APC – 208; PDP – 02. Valid votes – 210; Rejected votes- 03; Total number of votes – 213
Okehi Local Government: Registered voters – 403; Accredited voters – 110; APC – 108; PDP – 0; Total votes cast – 108
Kogi Kodokafi Local Government: Registered voters – 1,689; Accredited voters – 738; PDP – 281; APC – 406; Valid votes – 695; Rejected votes – 03; Total votes – 698
Ida Local Government: Registered voters – 310; Accredited votes – 141; PDP – 70; APC – 62; Valid votes – 136; Rejected votes – 01; Total votes cast – 137
Yagba West Local Government: Registered voters – 371; Accredited voters – 165; PDP – 73; APC – 86; Valid votes – 162; Rejected votes – 0; Total votes cast – 162
Adavi Local Government: Registered votes – 2,166; Accredited voters – 931; PDP – 12; APC 878; Valid votes 896; Rejected votes – 10; Total votes cast – 906
Igala Mela Local Government: Registered voters – 1,501; Accredited voters- 558; APC -92 ; PDP- 434 ; Valid votes – 533; Rejected votes – 06; Total votes cast – 539
Kabba Bunu Local Government: Registered voters – 1,767; Accredited voters – 375; APC – 375; PDP – 131; Valid votes – 340; Rejected votes – 10; Total votes cast – 350
Ajaokuta Local Government: Registered voters – 1,411; Accredited voters – 567; APC – 538; PDP – 12; Valid votes – 554; Rejected votes – 04; Total votes cast – 558
Olamaboro Local Government: Registered voters – 2,047; Accredited voters – 555; APC – 167; PDP – 332; Valid votes -522 ; Rejected votes – 22 ; Total votes cast – 544
Omala Local Government: Registered voters – 2,526; Accredited voters – 799; APC – 317; PDP – 323; Valid votes – 650; Rejected votes – 024; Total votes cast – 674
Ijimu Local Government: Registered voters – 705; Accredited voters – 205; APC – 86; PDP -102 ; Valid votes – 197 ; Rejected votes -01; Total votes cast – 198
Ankpa Local Government: Registered voters – 6,622; Accredited voters – 1,339; APC – 562; PDP – 629; Valid votes – 1,232; Rejected votes – 63; Total votes cast – 1,295
Bassa Local Government: Registered voters – 742; Accredited voters – 340; APC – 221; PDP – 114; Valid votes – 340; Rejected votes – 0; Total votes cast – 340
Ofu Local Government: Registered voters – 4,677; Accredited voters – 1,132; APC – 105; PDP – 484; Valid votes – 1,043; Rejected votes – 31; Total votes cast – 1,074
Lokoja Local Government: Registered voters – 2,854; Accredited voters – 833; APC – 301; PDP – 484; Valid votes – 1,043; Rejected votes – 31; Total votes cast – 1,074
Dekina Local Government: Registered voters – 17,558; Accredited voters – 4,991; APC – 2,178; PDP – 1,999; Valid votes – 4,339; Rejected votes -190; Total votes cast – 4,529
Ibaji Local Government: Registered voters – 2,678; Accredited voters – 745; APC – 369; PDP – 220; Valid votes – 595; Rejected votes – 12; Total votes cast – 607
Ida Local Government: Registered votes – 310; Accredited – 141; PDP – 70; APC – 62; Valid votes- 136; Rejected votes- 01; Total votes cast – 137

*Updated at 9.30 a.m with INEC official declaration