Kogi: Yahaya Bello Gets APC Senatorial Ticket

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The result was announced on Monday by the Returning Officer, Dr Sadiq Mohammed, who stated that the former governor polled a total of 72,349 votes to defeat his closest opponents, Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke, who scored 315 votes, and Momoh Yusuf Obaro, who polled 188 votes.

According to the declared results across the five local government areas in the district, Bello recorded the following: Adavi, 18,341; Ajaokuta, 10,298; Ogori, 5,146; Okehi, 8,943; and Okene, 29,621 votes.

Meanwhile, in the Kogi West Senatorial District, reports indicated that the incumbent senator, Sunday Karimi, is in early lead as results continue to trickle in.

This followed the withdrawal of some frontline aspirants, including Senator Smart Adeyemi, Samuel Bamidele Aro and others, shortly before the conclusion of the exercise, with the senator reportedly edging closer to victory.

In Kogi East, the incumbent senator, Jibrin Isah Echocho, is said to be trailing in the ongoing primary based on results so far released.

He reportedly lost in his Dekina Local Government Area, where he polled two votes, while his rival, Dr Joe Erico Ameh, scored 19,805 votes.

Dr Joe Erico is described by party sources as the preferred candidate of influential stakeholders within the state.

Meanwhile, leading contestants, including Muritala Ajaka and Jibrin Echocho, have criticised the conduct of the primary election, saying it fell below acceptable party guidelines and procedures.(daily trust)