The Kogi state governorship election kicks into November 11th, 2023 for the people of the state to elect one of the candidates to take over from the incumbent, Governor Yahaya Bello.
With barely two months away from the election, the state has entered into a full-fledged campaign season, as the political parties and their candidates consult and engage with the people, support groups, civil societies, traditional rulers, the press and security agencies toward a hitch-free campaign and election.
ebirareporters.com has reviewed the indices from the realities currently at play in the polity, and streamlined the 18 candidates to a top seven, based on their support base, political party, influence and popularity.
Thus, the top seven kogi governorship candidates are as follows, and arranged according to the alphabetical order of their political parties;
1. AA – Olayinka Braimoh:
Braimoh is the candidate of Action Alliance. He is an entrepreneur and real estate mogul. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Hall Seven Real Estate based in Abuja. He hails from Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, in the Western Senatorial District of the state.
2. ADC – Leke Abejide:
Abejide is the candidate of African Democratic Congress. He is a foremost lawmaker, currently serving his second term as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopa-muro Federal Constituency. He hails from Yagba East Local Government Area, in the Western Senatorial District of the state.
3. AP – Jibrin Usman:
Jibrin, Nigeria’s 21st Chief of Naval Staff is the candidate of Accord Party. He was one of the contestants of the last governorship elections, and has returned to slug it out again. He is popularly known as “Akpabana,” and hails from Dekina Local Government Area, in the Eastern Senatorial District of the state.
4. APGA – Idoko Ilonah:
Ilonah is the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. He is an entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Lona Media, a world-class outdoor advertising agency. Ilonah, sought refuge in APGA, after he lost to Dino Melaye in the governorship primary election of the PDP. He is from Idah Local Government Area, Kogi East.
5. APC – Ahmed Usman Ododo:
Ododo is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Until his emergence as the candidate of his party, he was the Auditor-General for Local Government for no fewer than seven years under the Yahaya Bello led administration. Ododo hails from Upogoro, Okene Local Government Area, in the Central Senatorial District of the state.
6. PDP – Dino Melaye:
Melaye is one of Nigeria’s popular lawmakers and the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party who had served in the Federal House of Representatives, and further as a Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District. He is from Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.
7. SDP – Murtala Yakubu Ajaka:
Muri, as he is popularly called, is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party. He was the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, before he resigned and dumped the party after Ododo got the APC ticket. He hails from Igala-Mela Local Government Area, in the Eastern part of the state.
More so, the above-mentioned candidates have commenced the inauguration of their campaign councils simultaneously. Any moment from now, the parties would harmonize and unveil dates for political rallies and tours across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Baring any change, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also commenced recruitment of adhoc staff for the election, expressing hope to electronically transmit results from polling units.
