APC clears all 25 assembly seats in Kogi

The Kogi state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all the 25 House of Assembly seats in the state leaving none to the opposition parties.

The ruling party had on March 9 during the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections cleared 22 seats as three seats in Lokoja I, Omala and Igalamela/Odolu constituencies were rescheduled as a result of inconclusive nature of the elections in the local government areas.

After the conduct of the rescheduled election and collation of results in the affected units on Saturday, the APC has officially won in all the state constituencies, leaving no room for any opposition party in the State Assembly.

In Kogi East, the APC, aside from winning the senatorial and three House of Representatives seats, the party also won the 11 state constituencies including Ankpa I and  II, Bassa, Dekina I and II (Biraidu), Ibaji, Idah, Iagalamela-Odolu, Ofu, Omala and Olamaboro.

However, since the creation of the state in 1991, Kogi House of Assembly had never been taken over by a single party.

Also, in Kogi Central senatorial district, the party also won the senate as well as all its House of Representatives seats. The party also clinched assembly seats in Okene I and  II, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi and Ogori-Magongo constituencies.

In Kogi West the same feat was recorded as the party also won in all its state constituencies including Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba-East, Yagba-West, Mopamuro, Lokoja I and  II and Kogi (Kotonkarfe)  Constituency.

Speaking on the success of the party at the polls in Lokoja Sunday, the Chief of Staff to the governor of Kogi state who was also the director-egneral, APC Campaign Council in the state, Edward Onoja attributed the success to lack of imposition of candidates against the wish of members of APC.

According to him “The leadership of the party in the state refused to impose any candidate on the people but they went through the primaries and came out as party flag bearers”

He noted that another critical factor that contributed to the party’s victory  was the quick resolution of pockets of disputes that came up after the conduct of primaries.

“Those who did not make it at the primaries were quickly engaged in sincere dialogue with the party leadership and they shelved their ambitions, joined the winners of the primaries and worked collectively for the success of the party”.