2027: Kogi East Stakeholders Blast Senator Karimi Over Plan To Unseat Ododo

Stakeholders from the Kogi East Senatorial District have vilified the lawmaker representing the western zone of the state, Senator Sunday Karimi, for indicating an intention to unseat Governor Ahmed Ododo at the 2027 election.

The stakeholders, under the auspices of the Kogi East Elite Forum, stated that Karimi had, at the 2025 Kabba Day celebration, announced his plan to unseat Ododo in conjunction with his allies from the eastern part of the state, with the aim of moving the governorship of Kogi to the Western Senatorial District in 2027.

Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja on Tuesday, the leader of the group, Dr Abubakar Yakubu, cautioned the lawmaker against what he described as frequent unguarded utterances.

Yakubu, in a text of the press conference made available to LEADERSHIP, declared that the lawmaker’s statements are a mere figment of his imagination, as Kogi State is now resolute and united behind Ododo and President Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.

“The Kogi East Elite Forum noted with dismay frequent unguarded utterances by the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Karimi, in recent times.

One such utterance was made during the 2025 Kabba Day celebration, where he stated his plan to unseat Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in conjunction with his self-proclaimed allies from the eastern part of the State, to move the governorship of Kogi State to the West Senatorial District in 2027.

“As a federal lawmaker, Karimi is supposed to be mindful of his utterances and not say or do anything to heat the polity. The people of Kogi East are not dullards; we clearly know what is good for us and what is good for Kogi state as a whole.

“Our governor has displayed the highest level of humility, responsiveness and exceptional administrative acumen. The governor, through his resilience, is working to establish industrial parks and free trade zones to catalyse industrialisation. The airport project design has been completed in record time, and the ongoing construction of an international market in Lokoja is to boost commercial activities and generate employment for our teeming youths.

His landmark introduction of free education, revitalisation, and equipping of primary health care centres across the state, prompt payment of salaries to civil servants and pensions to retirees, scholarships to students in tertiary institutions, and infrastructure development in roads, water, and educational sectors, his sincere fight against insecurity is second to none.

“Above all, our governor has been able to forge unity and peace among the citizens across the three Senatorial districts of the State. All these have provided incontrovertible evidence of our Governor’s competence and visionary leadership.

“As progressive intelligentsia, the Kogi East Elites Forum stands immovably behind our Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and is fully determined to see him complete his constitutionally established tenure of eight years uninterrupted, moving our dear State out of the wound. It would be politically suicidal to abandon a great leader with such a clear vision by entering into any ill-fated alignment that is purely based on self-centred ambition.

“The people of Kogi East are not at loggerheads with the people of Kogi Central or West. Therefore, Karimi should refrain from creating unnecessary tension, as showcased by his misguided comments.

“…Finally, we urge President Tinubu, the APC leadership, Kogites and the general public to disregard such baseless propaganda. Governor Ododo continues to command broad, cross-ethnic goodwill, and we remain firmly committed to supporting him and delivering resounding backing for President Tinubu and our governor in the forthcoming election,” he added.