By Thompson Yamput
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi and Alhaji Murtala Ajaka, the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 Governorship Election, on Wednesday buried their differences during a courtesy visit.
The two 2023 political titans were all smiles at the Government House, Lokoja on Wednesday, when Ododo received in audience Ajaka on a courtesy visit to him.
Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
Fanwo said that the visit followed Ajaka’s return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a move widely seen as a strong step toward unity and consolidation within the ruling party.
“The meeting of the duo focused on reconciliation, unity, and the collective commitment to strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 General Elections, ” he said.
Ajaka, in his remarks, reportedly told the governor that with his return to the APC there was no iota of grudge left in him for loosing to Ododo in the 2023 off cycle election.
He said that the visit was to tell the governor let bygone be bygone so that they could join hands and work for the progress of the party especially for his (Ododo’s) reelection bid and that of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Responding, Ododo appreciated Ajaka for his mature disposition and reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to uniting the people of Kogi irrespective of political differences, in the overall interest of peace, progress, and development.
The governor stressed that the task of building a greater Kogi as a state remains a collective responsibility that must transcend political contests and personal interests.
It could be recalled that Ododo had won 2023 election with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the SDP, who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes.
The results from the 21 local government areas (LGAs) of the state showed that the APC candidate, Ododo, swept over half of the LGAs.
The then State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, who was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, announced Ododo as the winner at 10:23pm of Nov. 12, 2023.
Ododo, an ex-Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi under Ex-Gov. Yahaya Bello, was the anointed candidate at the end of his two terms of eight years. (ephemeralnews.com.ng)
