CPC ACCEPTS RESULTS, AS ACN KICKS

Political parties, which participated in the last Saturday gubernatorial election in Kogi State, reacted differently to the outcome of the election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At a press conference addressed by the Director General of the ACN governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu Campaign Organization, Dino Melaye, the party rejected the outcome of the election, as it alleged that figures were falsified.

But the Congress for Progressive Change governorship candidate, Enojo James Ocholi (SAN) accepted the outcome of the election. He admonished the winner and PDP governorship candidate, Captain Idris Wada not to disappoint the people.'' Ocholi further congratulated Wada, even as he admitted irregularities in the exercise.

'My aspiration is still alive. But in view of complications from INEC, candidates of the political parties and the political party, under which I contested, I have decided to accept the verdict of the people. But I hope that the in-coming civilian administration will not disappoint the people. I have decided to congratulate the winner.'

Also, reacting to the outcome of the INEC results, which gave the PDP victory, Director General of the Wada/Awoniyi Campaign Organization, Prince Sola Akanmode, dismissed the ACN claim that figures were falsified as misplaced.

'It is expected, because they started even preparing evidence of rigging before the elections. That's their stock-in-trade. This election was not about propaganda; it was about whether you have structures on ground.

'Unfortunately, the ACN leadership got carried away; their war chest was money, they have no structures. They wanted to capitalize on the internal crisis in PDP. Money alone doesn't win elections. INEC conducted free, fair and credible election; we won in some places, we lost in others. In places we lost, we accepted, even wards in my local government area.

'I am not even sure of what they are talking about. The gap between us is so wide. Let see the details of their allegation; let the evidence speaks.' PDP Chairman in Kogi State, Hassan Salawu equally faulted the ACN claim.

'Their position isn't true at all. The election was peaceful; it wasn't rigged. You were here yourself and you moved round. You would recall that before the election, they said we were stockpiling arms and the commissioner of police asked them to substantiate it, but they couldn't. So, it is typical of them. It is their stock-in-trade.''