The Kogi Traditional Council of Chiefs has expressed its appreciation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the transparent, fair, and credible conduct of the November 11 governorship election in the state.
Led by the Atta Igala, His Royal Majesty Mathew Alaji-Opaluwa, the Council visited Governor Yahaya Bello on Wednesday to celebrate his victory at the poll and the peaceful nature of the election. Alaji-Opaluwa, represented by the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, mentioned that the Council engaged with stakeholders before the election, emphasizing the importance of peaceful elections and cautioning against the spread of fake news. Their efforts paid off, resulting in a successful and well-conducted election.
Owoniyi also highlighted the unity of the people of Okunland in their commitment to electing a governor who would build upon Governor Bello’s achievements. He appealed to Bello to continue fostering peace and strengthening the bond among the state’s residents.
In response, Governor Bello expressed gratitude to the traditional rulers for their prayers and their contributions to ensuring a peaceful election. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders for the overall benefit of the state, noting that politics concludes after elections, while development and good governance remain ongoing priorities.
The governor stressed the significance of ensuring that all parts of the state feel the positive impact of governance, regardless of political affiliations.
INEC declared Alhaji Usman Ododo as the winner of the election, having received 446,237 votes, surpassing other candidates.
