‘No election materials, officers’ — Kogi APC aspirants allege manipulations in primary poll

Aggrieved governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have alleged manipulations in the just concluded primary election of the party.

On Friday, Patrick Obahiagbon, secretary of the Kogi APC primary election committee, announced Ahmed Ododo, a former local government auditor-general in the state, as the winner.

Ododo scored 78, 704 votes to beat six other contestants.

Salami Momodu got 1506 votes, Abubakar Yahaya-Ashemogu secured 1,159 and Shaaibu Abubakar-Audu polled 763.

Stephen Ocheni garnered 552 votes, Sanusi Ohiare had 424, and Smart Adeyemi got 311 votes.

Speaking with journalists during the election on Saturday, Ohiare, one of the aspirants, said election materials or officers did not show up in his ward and some other wards. 

“We are here because things were not done properly,” he said.

“We were meant to do delegate elections but because of similar problems for lack of congresses and shrouding everything in secrecy, people went to court and the court annulled that delegate list.

“Now they said we should do direct primaries and the same thing is playing out. We’ve been here since 8 am to vote. This is Adavi-Eba ward. Everybody is out here in their numbers but there are no election materials or officials.”

Earlier, Smart Adeyemi, senator representing Kogi west, said results were already prepared before the election.

Shuaibu Audu and Stephen Ocheni, two other aspirants also faulted the conduct of the primary election.

Another aspirant described the process as “a highly disgraceful exercise”.

“Today is supposed to be a day fixed for the direct governorship primary in Kogi state. We are right here in front of Ata Igala’s palace in Ida and you can see the multitude waiting since morning,” he said.

“This is almost 1 pm now, and nobody has come but what you will hear at the end of the day is that they have done it and the result would be announced in the evening.

“This may be the beginning of the downfall of our party. God forbid if we follow this to the end, perhaps there will be no APC governor this time around and it would be unfortunate.

“What type of primary is this? There is no official, nobody goes anywhere to do anything but people are already in Lokoja to declare the result.”

He said in some other places around Ayangba, party members were asked to show receipts of party dues before they would be allowed to vote.