From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all 21 chairmanship seats and 239 councillorship positions contested in the Kogi State local government elections held on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
The Chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, announced the results at a press conference at the Commission’s headquarters in Lokoja, on Sunday, declaring APC candidates across all 21 local government areas and 239 electoral wards in the state winners of the contest.
Eri said the electoral exercise covered 3,508 polling units across the state, adding that the collation of results from all 21 local government areas had been completed.
He declared that the APC candidates emerged victorious after satisfying the requirements of the law and securing the highest number of valid votes cast in the respective contests.
“Having fulfilled all requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are hereby declared winners and returned elected as Chairmen of the 21 Local Government Areas and Councillors of the 239 Wards of Kogi State,” the KOSIEC chairman said.
The Commission said the elections were conducted in accordance with the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2025, and the Electoral Act, 2022.
Eri described the exercise as peaceful, free, fair and credible, commending political parties, security agencies, accredited election observers, journalists, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and voters for their cooperation before, during and after the polls.
He disclosed that the Commission had undertaken voter education programmes and stakeholder engagements ahead of the election, while providing what he described as a level playing field for the 12 political parties cleared to participate in the exercise.
According to him, no petition challenging the electoral process was received before or during the election.
The KOSIEC chairman added that Certificates of Return would be issued to the elected chairmen and councillors at a later date, which the Commission would communicate in due course.
He also commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing the logistics and enabling environment for the election, as well as allowing the Commission to discharge its responsibilities without interference.
KOSIEC and independent election observers had earlier, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s local government elections in the state, commending the impressive voter turnout, security arrangements and growing public participation in the democratic process.
The KOSIEC Chairman, Mamman Nda-Eri, who spoke during an assessment of the exercise, said the commission was committed to ensuring that every vote cast counted, assuring voters that their choices would be protected and duly reflected in the final outcome of the elections.
Nda-Eri, described the turnout in polling units visited as impressive saying that the commission had followed its electoral timetable and was determined to conclude the process in accordance with the law.
Saturday’s election brings to a close the tenure of the outgoing local government chairmen and councillors, who were sworn into office on October 23, 2024, for a two-year term.
