Kogi West Leaders Warn Of Cracks In APC

The Kogi West Elders Assembly (KWEA) has raised concerns over what it described as growing divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, warning that attempts to manipulate the party’s senatorial primary ahead of the 2027 elections could have serious consequences for the ruling party.

In a statement signed by prominent leaders from the three federal constituencies in Kogi West, the group also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Ambassador Olusola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The assembly described Enikanolaiye as “one of Nigeria’s finest diplomat-bureaucrats” and noted that Okunland had not produced a minister since the end of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 2007.

According to the group, the appointment reflects President Tinubu’s confidence in the human resources available in Kogi West and Okunland.

However, the elders expressed displeasure over developments within the APC in Kogi State, particularly a reported meeting held in Lokoja on May 11, 2026, allegedly involving political loyalists of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The meeting reportedly endorsed former House of Representatives member Samuel Bamidele Aro as the preferred APC candidate for the Kogi West Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.

KWEA alleged that the endorsement was aimed at undermining the incumbent senator representing Kogi West, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, whom the group described as hardworking, accessible and widely accepted across the district.

According to the statement, the relationship between Senator Karimi and the state government became strained after the senator publicly advocated a power shift to Kogi West ahead of the 2027 governorship contest.

The group recalled that Karimi had pointed out that Kogi West would mark 35 years of political exclusion from the governorship position by August 27, 2026.

The elders also claimed that attempts had been made in recent months to weaken Karimi’s political standing, including what they described as a politically motivated “vote of no confidence” meeting held in Kabba earlier this year.

They, however, said the move was resisted by supporters across the seven local government areas of Kogi West through rallies and meetings reaffirming confidence in the senator’s leadership.

KWEA further alleged that membership cards from the APC e-registration exercise were being withheld by the party leadership in the state to influence the outcome of the forthcoming senatorial primary.

According to the group, such actions run contrary to the directives of the APC national leadership, which advocates free, fair and inclusive participation in party processes.

The elders warned that deepening divisions and dissatisfaction within the party could threaten the APC’s electoral fortunes in Kogi West if not properly managed.

They also praised Senator Karimi for what they described as impactful representation, citing his interventions in security, education, empowerment and infrastructure.

The group specifically credited the senator with contributing to the resumption of work on the Abuja-Lokoja Highway and the Kabba-Isanlu-Egbe-Ilorin road projects.

KWEA called on President Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to pay attention to the internal disagreements in Kogi West and ensure a transparent process ahead of the party primaries.

The statement was signed by Mallam Mustapha Ohinoyi, Prof. David Ikupeleye and Dr. Segun Ehinlafa on behalf of the assembly.