INEC declares Kogi East, Ogun East Senatorial elections inconclusive

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kogi East Senatorial Elections inconclusive.

INEC Returning Officer, Professor Emmanuel Bala, explained that the decision was taken because the election did not hold in 129 polling units in the senatorial district.

Meanwhile, INEC declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Yakubu Oseni winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial seat.

Announcing the result, INEC returning officer for the senatorial district, Professor Patrick Audu from Federal University Lokoja, disclosed that the APC candidate polled 76,120 votes to beat Social Democratic (SDP) candidate Natasha Akpoti who polled 48,326 votes.

The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ogembe who is the senator currently representing the people at the red chamber polled 19,359 votes to come third.

APC candidate won by a wide margin of 27,794.

Melaye won after beating his arch-rival Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to an announcement by INEC Returning Officer, Professor Emmanuel Bala, Melaye polled 85, 395 votes to defeat Sen. Smart Adeyemi who scored 66, 901 votes.

The Kogi West Senatorial District comprises seven LGAs namely: Lokoja, Kogi/Koton Karfe, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopa -Muro.

According to statistics made available to party agents and journalists in Lokoja, Melaye won 6 of the 7 local government areas that make up the Senatorial district.

Meanwhile, the election results of Ogun East Senatorial District was on Monday declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Returning Officer for Ogun East, Prof. Chris Onwuka of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said that the decision to declare the election inconclusive was based on the principle of INEC.

He said the election was cancelled because of over voting in Ajebandele Ward in Ijebu East Local Government where total vote cast were more than the number of accredited voters.

There was protest within the collation centre at Ijebu-Ode Local Government Town Hall when Onwuka was about declaring Senator Lekan Mustapha of All Progressive Party as the winner of the election.

Mustapha polled a total vote of 84,929, his closest rival, Mr Adeola Sosanwo of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled 82,457 votes.

The returning officer said that there was alleged case of discrepancies in the election results.

Onwuka said, “And if the election is being conducted, it can sway the decision in any direction. Based on the principle of INEC, the election is going to be declared inconclusive.

“I have given you the logic because the officer said he cancelled some polling units, but 13,000 is reflected here.

“Please, the election remains inconclusive until this is cleared.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ogun East Senatorial Districts comprised nine local government areas.

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