Why INEC Declared Ododo Gov-Elect Of Kogi Despite Plans To Conduct Fresh Polls In Some Polling Units – Political Analyst

Political analysts have explained why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Usman Ododo, winner of the Kogi state off-cycle governorship election.

In the wake of the collation of the results from the Kogi state governorship election, recall that the election umpire announced plans to conduct fresh polls in 59 polling units in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of the state.

According to the electoral body, the fresh election will be held next Saturday, November 18, 2023.

INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna announced this in a statement on Sunday night.

The statement reads, “Further to our statement yesterday, we have received an update from our Kogi State office regarding the suspension of election in some locations in the state where result sheets were completed before the commencement of voting. The most critical incident occurred in nine out of 10 Wards in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area (LGA).”

However, many Nigerians have been left in shock by the decision of Kogi Returning Officer to announce Usman Ododo winner of the election despite plans to conduct fresh polls in poling units across the state.

Speaking to Naija News, Olaitan Abidemi, a political analyst, explained that the election umpire declared Ododo the winner of the election after discovering that the results from the places where fresh polls will be conducted will not change the resulting narrative of the election.

“I understand that the question that will be on the lips of many Nigerians would be why INEC declared Ododo winner of the election after saying that it would conduct fresh polls in 59 polling units. The answer is simple: it is because the result from the 59 polling units would not be enough to change the narrative of the election,” Abidemi said.

Tony Adeoba suggested that while INEC has seven days to review the result, Ododo was announced the winner of the election following the wide win margin between the APC candidate and his opposition.

“Although the commission has seven days to review the election result, I do not think that INEC’s statement will change the narrative of Ododo’s victory because even if Melaye or the SDP candidate wins at the 59 polling units with Ododo scoring zero, it still will not change the narrative of the election,” Adeoba said.