Governorship aspirant for Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, says the November 11 poll was rigged in favour of his major rival, Usman Ododo of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ajaka who spoke on Channels TV’s ‘The 2023 Verdict’ program last night, said going to court to reclaim his mandate would be a waste of time as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would come as a witness to defend the outcome of the poll.
“I have been around for the past 20 years. I know what it is. What am I going to court to do when the same INEC that did this is going to come as a witness to defend what they did? So it is a waste of time. Except the party people because I’m hugely disappointed. If the INEC chairman allows this to stand, they are looking for trouble in Nigeria.
“You gave me assurances that the election would be transparent, you allowed me to waste my time, spend my money, mobilise my people, only for you to write the results. Even if I’m not sad about it, you expect my supporters to be happy. I assure you if they allow this to stand as they are allowing in all the states now, they are calling for anarchy in this country,” he said.
Ododo is the preferred candidate for the outgoing governor, Yahaya Bello. INEC declared him winner last night, claiming he polled 446,237 votes to defeat Ajaka, who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes.
“In Okene Local Government, they turned out over 130,000 votes,” Ajaka continued. “Haba! And INEC accepted that result and what is on the BVAS is less than 30,000.”
“With all due respect to the person of the INEC chairman, if they don’t do a checklist and investigate their officials that went to Kogi State and allow this to stand, I doubt if there will be election in 2027. Because people will go into that election armed and I fear Somalia will be a child’s play.
“If we knew it would be the same old music, we would have played along with that old music by inflating the results from my area,” he added.
