By Emma Ovuakporie & Isiaka Oyibo
Capt. Idris Wada(rtd.) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was, yesterday, returned as the winner of last Saturday’s re-scheduled gubernatorial election in Kogi State, has pledged to form a government saturated with technocrats to steer the ship of governance.

Following his announcement as winner of the election, Wada stretched out an arm of fellowship to his 18 fellow contestants to join him in moving the state forward.

People Democratic Party (PDP) Cap Idris Wada Cast his vote at the Odu-Ogboyaga Dekina Local Government in Kogi State

His invitation was immediately rejected by his main rival and candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, can, Prince Abubakar Audu.

Audu, the first civilian governor of the state, in a sharp reaction to the election result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, rejected the results, declaring that the results were rigged.

The Returning Officer of the election Prof. Shamsideen Amali, returned Wada as the duly elected candidate having satisfied the requirements for the poll.

The PDP’s Wada polled 300,372 votes ahead of the 159,913 votes polled by Audu. Audu’s estranged wife Hajiya Aisha Audu, who ran on the platform of Justice Party, JP, polled 619 votes.

ANPP got 9,642 and CPC polled 5724 votes.

In all, 19 political parties presented candidates for the election.

Kogi is one of the five states where election did not hold in April because of a court judgment that elongated the tenure of the governors.

Other states are Adamawa, Bayelsa, Sokoto and Cross River states.

The new governor-elect of Kogi State, yesterday, assured that his administration rather than being vindictive would run an all-inclusive government when the ship of governance commences operation.