The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clarified on Tuesday that it employed the “margin of lead principle” to announce the winner of the November 11 governorship election in Kogi, cancelling the earlier scheduled supplementary election on November 18.
Mr. Haliru Sule, Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the Kogi INEC office, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
Sule detailed that, following various complaints received during Saturday’s election, the commission initially declared a re-run in Ogorimagongo and some Local Government Areas.
However, after investigating the contentions, INEC found it necessary to apply the margin of lead principle.
He explained the principle, stating, “If the number of PVCs collected in polling units where elections didn’t hold or were cancelled is not more than the difference between the winner and the loser, then the commission can go ahead and make its declaration.”
The final decision was made after careful consideration, leading to the announcement of the result on Sunday, November 12. Alhaji Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner.
Sule emphasized that there would be no supplementary or re-run in any polling unit in Kogi. The governorship election in the state is now concluded, with the issuance of a certificate of return to the winner pending.
Expressing gratitude to stakeholders involved in the election, Sule hoped for continued cooperation and support from politicians and the electorate in subsequent elections in Kogi. INEC declared APC candidate Usman Ododo as the winner with 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, secured 259,052 votes, and Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party polled 46,362 votes.
