The Kogi State Governorship Election is three months away. The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the 11th day of November, 2023 for the election.
At the close of the window period, 18 Governorship Candidate will be slugging it out for the election, with the race said to however be a five horse race by political analysts owing to what many consider as the seriousness and popularity of the candidates.
Presently, the APC is in control of the State in the last eight years. The PDP it would be recalled had between 1999 held sway until it lost out in 2016.
Though the other political parties contesting the governorship election in the State may be said to be relatively knew, it is quick to point out that the candidates where at some point in the APC or PDP, all defected after the political party primaries to actualize their ambition. So despite their relatively unknown platform they are coming into the race with bundle of experience.
Amongst the major contenders are the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
This report looks at 7 things to know about 5 most talked about candidates in the forthcoming November Governorship Election in the State:
Ahmed Usman Ododo. APC
Ahmed Usman Ododo, is a prominent politician in Nigeria with a stellar reputation and outstanding leadership abilities.
He was raised in a family of brilliant people and has always been motivated by a desire to help his community and advance his nation.
Ododo’s path to political success started with his education. He graduated with a degree in Political Science from Zaria, Nigeria’s esteemed Ahmadu Bello University. His scholastic background gave him a firm basis in how politics and the government function.
Trained as a democrat, conflict intervention and resolutionist at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, this urbane and avid believer in the integrity of hard work and merit in public service, has lived a life of selflessness and sacrifice for the good of the greater society.
Ododo has utilized his schooling well over the years. He has held a number of positions in the political sphere, including that of Chairman of the Kogi State Youth Council, Special Assistant to the Governor, and Member of the Nigerian Youth Parliament.
Ododo has developed a profound grasp of the problems affecting his state and the nation as a whole as a result of these experiences. He has honed a sharp sense of strategy and a gift for uniting people around shared objectives.
Ododo Ahmed Usman or OAU, as he is fondly called by friends and associates is a highly detribalised Kogites. He does not discriminate on the grounds of tribe, religion or district.
As former LG Auditor General of the State, this was very evident in the selection of his immediate aides and staff from all religions, cultures, ethnic groups and regions in the state.
He was reputed to have visited nearly all the Local Government Areas in the state.
He has an enduring disposition to the welfare of the poor and needy in the society. This has informed his charity works and contributions over the years and personal sacrifices for the education of the poor and underprivileged in the society.
His public life has been driven by a quest for a society where the wealthy and strong must use their expertise and strength to ensure a system where the weak can find space and encouragement to excel. Ododo has been an example in the service of humanity.
As a young man, Ododo imbibed early the importance of knowledge and learning. He bagged Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
To further the frontiers of his learning, Ododo also attended several specialist courses which has helped shape and prepare him for the rigours and expectations of top public office.
Some of the courses include, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN),
Member, Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
Known for his professionalism, and commitment to upholding financial standards.
He has proven to possess good leadership and managerial skills, with a track record of implementing reforms and improving financial management systems at the local government level.
He is also a strong advocate for transparency, accountability, and good governance in local government administration.
At birth, his parents had a premonition that their son was destined to be a leader and counsellor to great men, so they named him Ahmed meaning the highly praised, Usman meaning the “wise, most powerful”. Ododo is the Symbol of Love.
Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin. Accord Party.
Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin of the Accord Party places himself as a viable and valuable candidate who possesses the needed charisma, capacity, experience and the popularity to dislodge the ruling APC in the state.
This is in view of his antecedence when he served as the Nation’s Chief Of Naval Staff.
Akpabana as he is popularly called, draws his strength from not just his military background but he won the hearts of the people of the state when he was in service as he created naval bases in Lokoja and Idah and also established the Nigeria Naval School Okura.
In 2019 governorship election of the state, it was believed that Vice Admiral Usman was unjustly screened out of the gurbanatoral race by the APC screening committee thereby not giving him the opportunity to participate in the governorship Primary.
And this time his supporters see 2023 as a come back for him to make a mark in the political space of the state as he is from Kogi east and his age, exposure and security background places him tops among other contenders.
Alhaji Yakubu Murtala Ajaka SDP
The Social Democratic Party candidate, Alhaji Yakubu Murtala Ajaka popularly known as Muri has become a house hold name in the political space of the state.
He happened to have left the APC owing to the fact that he was denied the opportunity to participate in the Kogi State APC governorship primary.
The SDP candidate draws his strength from a large followers as his ethnic background happens to be the largest in the state .
He has also in the shortest possible period as a youth endeared himself to the youths in the state breaking barriers.
The SDP candidate who has suffered alleged attacks on his campaign offices and alleged threat to life has gained what can best be described as sympathy popularity in addition to his personal developmental stride in Kogi East.
Today Muri’s political ambition is fast turning into a political movement in the State.
Sen. Dino Melaye PDP.
Dino Melaye (born 7 January 1974) is a Nigerian politician, a former Senator and was a Member of the 8th Nigerian National Assembly, represented Kogi West Senatorial district.
He is from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Dino Comes from Kogi West Senatorial District, an area with the second voting population.
Dino Melaye was a two term former Member of the House of Representatives, represented Kabba/Ijumu federal constituency, under the peoples democratic party (PDP ). He is considered as most experience politically amongst the Governorship Candidates.
Senator Dino Melaye left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress before making a come back in 2018, is a graduate of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, holds an LLB degree. He started his political activities right from his days in the University, thus making him a maverick political actor.
Sen. Melaye has the advantage of speaking all the major language in the State, is seen as most experience amongst the gladiators, has a female, Hajia Habibat Deen from Kogi East as his running mate.
Sen Dino’s lifestyle in terms of marital status and family is considered a minus in his quest to govern the State as many see his attitude to have a stable marriage as an indication that he cannot manage the complexity of the State
Melaye hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He is undoubtedly one of the most controversial politicians in Kogi State. His role after the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, Many from the East see as a minus for him as the late Prince Audu political family area waiting to have their pound of flesh in the November polls.
Leke Abejide ADC.
Hon. Elder Leke Joseph Abejide was born on 8th of May, 1975, hails from Alu, Yagba East local government area of Kogi State.
He obtained his primary school leaving certificate at LSMB Primary school, Alu-Igbagun. He then proceeded to ALU community secondary school in 1991 from there, his outstanding and exceptional performance during his secondary school days, he was appointed as the Asst. Senior Prefect, there is leadership trait was discovered with high sense of humility.
A graduate of the prestigious ABU, Zaria, Hon. Leke holds a BSc. Economics, obtained his Masters Degree in Economics from Bayero University Kano.
Hon. Elder Leke Abejide is the chairman of ABYEM INT’L LTD, a private clearing company with impressive mission, vision, accomplishments and good services. ABYEM INT’L LTD had become the preferred choice for many leading importers and exporters in Nigeria.
He is a known and resourceful entrepreneur with excellent record of success in business. Through his Leke Abejide Foundation, an intervention agency has affected the less privileged in the society, widows, aged people and indigent students.
He is a selfless and community builder, amongst his numerous achievement, contribution, and projects are:
Renovation of health center in collaboration with other prominent indigenes of the community.D
Donation of poles for the rural electrification of Igbo-Ero electricity project. H
single handedly take the responsibility of paying every five corp members that are posted to Community High School since 2011 to 2017.
Empowerment of widows since 2014 till date.
Hon. Leke, constructed a police station of a “C” division type to further increase security of lives and properties in Alu community, equipped with motorise borehole, generator, fence with other necessary facilities.
Payment of school fees from Junior Secondary School to Senior Secondary School in colleges in Alu since 2014 till date.
His love for Education is second to none, he broke the record and paid for WAEC FEES of the entire students in public school Yagba federal constituency including their administrative charges amounting to over #43Million Naira.
He has equally computed the names of students in both public and private secondary schools for the waec registration for 2019/2020.
He has rendered uncountable financial and material assistance to almost every one within his community.
Employment for many son’s and Daughters of Alu. He employed over 200 Yagba indigenes into his personal company to work directly under him.
Hon. Leke Abejide contested and won his election under the African Democratic Congress ADC in February 2019, he is a member, House of Representative and the Deputy Chairman committee on Custom and Excise.
Hon Leke Abejide is happily married to Mrs Esther Modupe Abejide with three stunning children.
Samson Ahmed
Write from Lokoja.