Kogi 2023: ADC Adopts APC Candidate, Ododo For Governor »

In a remarkable turn of event in the November 11 gubernatorial election, Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have dumped it’s gubernatorial candidate, Leke Abejide and endorsed the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Ahmed Usman Ododo stating that their decision was in the best interest of the state.

The State Chairman of the ADC, Hon. Kingsley Oga and other members of the party across the three Senatorial districts while addressing members of the party on Friday, said although he is still the state chairman of the ADC, they have decided to work for APC candidate at the gubernatorial polls.

The chairman added that the party came to this resolution after a critical assessment of all the contestants going to the polls by a 5-man panel with consideration of certain indices and Ahmed Usman ododo was preferred amongst others.

He added that Gov. Yahaya Bello has laid a solid foundation in several areas of development and a continuity government of Ahmed Usman Ododo can build efficiently on the already laid solid foundation.

Citing an instance at the last election, the party chairman hinted that the party despite having a Presidential candidate resolved to vote for the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, a situation which even the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Leke Abejide championed, hence it should not be surprising if they have decided again to give their support to another candidate at the state level.

He added that their decision was totally devoid of ethnic, religion sentiments or financial inducement but all in the interest of the growth and development of the state. The party chairman said that after the party executives’ endorsement of Ahmed Usman ododo, they would go into their various localities to sensitise their party members on their decision.

Representing the APC party candidate, Ahmed Usman Ododo the Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Ade Ismail thanked the sister party for the endorsement of its candidate stating that they were all together and united in the purpose of delivering a greater Kogi state.

He said Ododo’s candidacy has exemplified openness and accommodation beyond party lines, hence while their terms of remaining in their party was clearly understood, their decision to support the APC candidate for the November polls was highly appreciated.

Ahmed Ododo assured that his government, when it emerge will represent the interest of all kogi state indigenes irrespective of ethnic, religion or party differences while he promised that they will all together deliver the Kogi they all desired as they will be duly carried along.

In their remarks, Zonal leaders of ADC for Kogi East, West and Central unanimously agreed that their decision was hinged on them not wasting their votes and recognising strongly with the party at the centre.

The Kogi East zonal leader, Hon. Victoria Etubi Momoh urge people from the region to drop their sentiments and align with the bigger picture by ensuring that they support a party that have the capacity of offering them benefits of democracy.

Also speaking, Hon. Idowu Ibikunle representing Yagba West state Constituency at the Kogi State House Assembly said he contested as ADC candidate and he won his election.

He further stated that despite of the fact that he is a member of ADC, he and his supporters have all decided to vote for the candidate of APC in the coming Governorship election.

He said the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a performing governor and because of that he will support his candidate for the election so that the incoming governor Ododo can continue from where the governor stop come 2024.