Following the conclusion of the off- cycle governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi, President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, congratulated Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, and Governor-elect Usman Ododo of Kogi State, on their victory in their respective states.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the outcome of the elections reflects the wishes of the people, emphasising that democracy thrives when voters reward competence, transparency, and good governance.”
The President also commended the electorate in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa for their participation in the electoral process.
In the meantime the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party faulted the results of the Kogi and Imo polls, alleging that the security agents connived with the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission to rig the elections.
In Imo State, Uzodimma scored 540,308 votes, defeating the PDP candidate Samuel Anyanwu who scored 71,503 votes to come second, while the Labour Party’s Athan Achonu, emerged third with 64,081 votes.
Ododo won the Kogi governorship election with 446,237 votes, defeating Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, who garnered 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party came third with 46,362 votes.
In Bayelsa State, the incumbent governor, Diri, polled 175,196 to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, who got 110,108 votes while the Labour Party’s Udengs Eradiri polled 905 votes.
To the winners, Tinubu said, “May your tenure in office be defined by close collaboration with all of your counterparts across party lines in the attainment of pan-Nigerian developmental achievements that benefit everyone, and may you lead at all times with compassion and a deepened commitment to our nation’s unity.”
He affirmed the resilience of democratic institutions and the power of the people in shaping the nation’s political landscape.
He also expressed gratitude to INEC for working to create a level playing field for all contestants and the nation’s security agencies for maintaining law and order during the highly-anticipated elections.
He tasked the victors to prioritise the common good of the people over partisan interests in the spirit of nurturing a harmonious, inclusive political landscape in the three states
