Usman Ododo’s Win: The Triumph of the Minority in Kogi Election

In a surprising turn of events during the recent off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, emerged victorious, showcasing the triumph of the minority over the majority.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Ododo the winner with a substantial lead, securing 446,237 votes. His closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), trailed behind with 259,052 votes.

What made Ododo’s victory even more intriguing was the narrative of the minority Ebira tribe surpassing the majority in Kogi State. INEC reports revealed that Ododo garnered over 135,000 votes from the Ebira stronghold of Okene, while the largest local government, Idah, contributed less than 15,000 votes. This shift in voting patterns showcased a significant turnout of Ebira people supporting their candidate.

Before the APC primaries, Ododo, Kogi State’s Auditor-General, was a relatively unknown figure, despite being the preferred candidate of the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello, who shared the same Kogi Central and Ebira ethnic background. Ododo’s success in the primaries, where he defeated prominent figures like Kogi West Senator Smart Adeyemi, reflected a strategic withdrawal by key contenders to ensure his emergence.

Historically, Kogi East had produced all governors from 1999 to 2015, but Bello’s election in 2015 broke the trend. Speculations suggested Bello aimed to secure an Ebira successor for a continued 16-year dominance in power.

Contrary to expectations, popular figure Dino Melaye, who represented Kogi West in the National Assembly, faced a significant defeat, securing a distant third place. Despite Melaye’s widespread recognition and accomplishments, Ododo triumphed even in Melaye’s Ijumu Local Government Area.

Melaye contested the election results, alleging INEC’s involvement in allocating votes and claiming there was no election in Kogi State. Similar sentiments were echoed by the Action Alliance (AA) in Kogi State, with Fred Ambo rejecting the outcome and accusing the election of being marred by irregularities.

While INEC denied tampering with the results, controversies persisted, with Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo of Tinubu Renaissance Community and Sustainable Transformation insisting that Ododo’s victory was influenced by manipulated votes from Kogi Central.

The aftermath of the Kogi governorship election leaves a trail of skepticism, with various parties contesting the results and raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.