The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protect the popular will of the Kogi State electorate as its candidate, Usman Ododo, leads in the results of 18 Local Government Areas declared so far.
News360 Info reports that while Ododo has scored a total of 417,161, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Yakubu Murtala Ajaka, trails him with a total of 209,103 votes.
In a statement on Sunday, titled ‘INEC, Protect the popular will of Kogi electorate’, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the results announced and uploaded so far show its candidate is maintaining a landslide lead.
The party urged INEC to stand fast in discharging its constitutional duty to ensure the freely exercised will of the Kogi electorate prevails despite the pressure and violent threats on its staff.
The statement reads, “With the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Usman Ododo, coasting to a spectacular victory in Saturday’s Kogi Guber election, we call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protect the integrity of the legitimate votes of the Kogi electorate.
“Announced and uploaded results, so far, show our candidate maintaining a landslide lead in Kogi West and Central, with a competitive showing in Kogi East.
We are keenly aware of intense pressure, including violent threats on INEC staff, by agents and supporters of trailing opposition parties aimed at unduly influencing or disrupting the ongoing collation of results in the state.
We urge INEC to stand fast in the discharge of its constitutional duty to deliver free, fair and credible election in the state, and ensure that the freely exercised will of the Kogi electorate prevails.”
