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The recent governorship election in Kogi State had an interesting outcome. Usman Ododo, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged as the winner. What made this victory even more remarkable was that Ododo belonged to a minority tribe in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ododo as the winner of the 2023 governorship election in Kogi State. He received 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052 votes.
What made Ododo’s win even more impressive was the support he received from the Ebira people, the second-largest tribe in Kogi State. Reports from INEC showed that Ododo received over 135,000 votes from Okene, an area predominantly inhabited by the Ebira people. In contrast, the largest local government in the state, Idah, only contributed less than 15,000 votes. This demonstrated the unity and determination of the Ebira people to vote for their own candidate, Ododo.
Prior to the APC primaries, Ododo was relatively unknown and not considered a strong contender. Despite being the preferred candidate of the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello, Ododo faced tough competition from well-known politicians like Kogi West Senator Smart Adeyemi. However, with the support of influential figures like the outgoing Deputy Governor Edward Onoja and ex-Finance Commissioner David Adebanji-Jimoh, Ododo emerged as the party’s candidate.
For many years, governors in Kogi State came from the Kogi East region. However, Bello, who hails from the Kogi Central region like Ododo, broke this tradition in 2015. It was speculated that Bello wanted to ensure that an Ebira candidate succeeded him, allowing his zone to complete 16 years of uninterrupted power.
Interestingly, Dino Melaye, who was considered the most popular among the governorship candidates, did not fare well in the election. Despite his popularity, he failed to win the contest.
Usman Ododo’s victory in the Kogi governorship election showcased the power of unity and determination. It proved that even a minority tribe can overcome the odds and emerge victorious in a democratic process.