The new Governor of Kogi State Usman Ododo on Saturday took over from his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, who served two terms from January 27, 2016, to January 27, 2024, a ceremony which saw Lokoja Metropolis in agog.
Penpushing reports that Ododo and his Deputy Joel Salifu were sworn in by the Kogi State’s Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi at a ceremony held at Muhammadu Buhari Square Lokoja, which attracted number of dignitaries and residents of the state.
The members of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) across all the twenty-one local government areas of the state thronged the square to witness the epoch making inauguration of the Governor, said to be political godson of immediate past Governor
Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that both Ododo and Salifu were elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress(APC) on November 11, 2023, during the off-cycle Governorship election, having secured 446,237 votes to defeat his closest rival Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who polled 259,052 votes.
The notable personalities at the event include the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; Kwara State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman and the Deputy Governor of Benue State.
Penpushing also reports that Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly Rt Hon Umar Yusuf led his colleagues to the venue, while government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and some federal were not left out at the events.
The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), however, in a statement urged the people of Kogi State not to be disillusioned by the swearing-in of Ododo as Governor, emphasizing that he had already challenge the victory in court
Penpushing further reports that Ajaka, in the statement by the party’s Campaign Director of Communications, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, said the enthronement of Ododo was just a temporary distraction as the case challenging his victory was before the Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
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