The All Progressive Congress (APC), Kogi State governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has said that the task of leading his party to victory in the next governorship is a herculean one, but it is a task that must be accomplished by the grace of God.
 
Delivering his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the APC governorship primary, Ododo, the former Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi State, said that all the aspirants are eminently qualified to fly the flag of the party, but only one person can do so at a time.
   
“To the glory of God Almighty and with the utmost sense of responsibility, I accept the challenge to be the flag bearer of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2023 governorship election in Kogi State.
 
“I congratulate all my brothers and sisters who all aspired to lead the party in the next governorship election. You have all demonstrated a rare fit in party loyalty, respect for the system, and believe in the spirit of a united APC family in Kogi State. We are all winners because we are in this race together as one family
 
“I call on all of you, my brothers and sisters, and all our teeming supporters to let us unite solidly behind the ticket and work for the victory of the party come November 2023. With your support, our great party will be victorious in the next governorship election and we shall consolidate on the gains of the New Direction agenda in the state.
 
May I at this juncture most respectfully express my profound appreciation to our leader and architect of the new Kogi State, the Governor of Kogi State, AlhajiYahaya Bello for believing in me and for effectively leading us through a smooth and rancour-free process that has today culminated in this victory for all our party men and women in the state.

“I want to also use this medium and singular opportunity to specially and most profoundly appreciate the relentless efforts of the state party chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello. Today, the party has spoken; the system is working and the APC shall be victorious and we shall retain power in Kogi State come November 2023
 
Meanwhile, Ododo was declared the winner of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Kogi State governorship primary election.
 
The election, conducted via direct primary, took place in the 239 wards across the 21 local councils of the state.
 
External observers, party members, and supporters adjudged the conduct of the primary election as one of the most peaceful, and rancour free.  Ododo pulled 78, 704 votes to defeat the other four contestants.
 
Announcing the outcome of the primaries at the state secretariat of APC, the Secretary, the APC governorship primary election committee, Patrick Obahiaghan, said registered votes were 93,729, while 83,419 were accredited voters.
 
Of the accredited voters, he said that Shaibu Abubakar Audu got 763 votes; Stephen Ikani Ocheni, a former minister of state pulled 552 votes; the former Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Sanusi Ohiare received 424 votes, while Smart Adeyemi, the senator representing Kogi West got 311 votes. 
 
Speaking further the Secretary of the committee said that Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu pulled 1,159 votes; Salami Momodu Ozigi recorded 1,506 votes and Ahmed Usman Ododo pulled the highest number of votes of 78,704.