Allegations Against Senator Karimi Baseless, Driven By Political Opportunism —Aide

The Media Office of to Senator Sunday Karimi, Representing Kogi West Senatorial Zone and Chairman, Senate  Committee on Services has issued a formal rejoinder regarding a publication dated March 10, 2026, and titled “The Fallacy of Sabotage: Setting the Record Straight on Kogi West 2027”.

A statement issued by Busayo Tosin,Media Officer to Senator Sunday Karimi, noted that the publication suggests an unsubstantiated business relationship between Senator Karimi and Chief Jide Omokore, and by extension with Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former Minister for Petroleum.

‘This assertion is not only deceptive and misleading; it is a calculated attempt to divert attention from the significant and commendable work that Senator Karimi has accomplished since assuming office. We reject these baseless insinuations entirely and view them as a smear campaign orchestrated by political detractors.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the longstanding relationship between Senator Karimi and Chief Omokore is based on a personal friendship that has endured for over 50 years, predating the establishment of the Fourth Republic. Their bond is akin to that of brothers, marked by mutual respect and camaraderie, rather than any insidious business dealings. In stark contrast, the relationship between Samuel Bamidele Aro and Chief Tunde Ayeni is characterized by a more transactional, politically motivated collaboration that lacks the same personal history and depth.

“It is critical to address the question of integrity in political aspirations. Samuel Bamidele Aro, who aims to compete in future elections, faces significant legal and ethical challenges. Under the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, he is deemed ineligible to run for office due to his involvement in the fuel subsidy scandal during the Jonathan administration. Aro has admitted to complicity in this scandal and has made promises to repay funds,an admission that, under the law, does not equate to exoneration but instead underscores his wholesale culpability.

“Aro’s political career can be characterised as that of a political opportunist, a journeyman whose incessant quest for political recognition leads him to vie for office in every electoral cycle, yet he is bereft of any tangible record of meaningful public service. His past attempts to secure a second term in the House of Representatives were thwarted by Senator Karimi in 2011. However, Senator Karimi not only returned to the House in 2015 but also made history as the first representative from Kogi West to achieve two consecutive terms. His exemplary performance during those terms laid the groundwork for his successful election to the Senate in 2023.

“Senator Karimi’s humility and unobtrusiveness do not detract from his groundbreaking achievements as the foremost parliamentarian in Kogi West. From reconstructing the Government Secondary School, Kotonkarfe, for a whopping N1.2 billion, to instituting an annual student bursary for indigent students across Kogi State, to which he recently committed N300 million, Senator Karimi’s efforts are pace-setting.

Collaborating with old students of his alma mater, Titcombe College, Egbe, he has renovated the iconic school and built a modern Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre, which has been approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB).

“In response to security challenges in his senatorial zone, he personally built a Forward Operating Base (FOB), capable of accommodating 100 troops in Egbe two years ago, and donated the same to the Nigerian Army. His footprints are to be found in several community efforts on infrastructure rehabilitation, construction of hospitals, and impactful empowerment schemes across the seven local government areas in Kogi West. The casual visitor to Kogi West is awed by the dominance of billboards and posters bearing the message Karimi L’ekan Si (Karimi one more time), hoisted by admirers and supporters to underscore just how well he has served his constituents in less than three years.

“Political discourse should be anchored in substantiated evidence rather than baseless accusations that only serve to fan the flames of unnecessary conflict. Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro should have no issues with Senator Sunday Karimi, who stands out as a reliable and principled statesman. Aro’s concern should be about how his procurement to run for the Senate aligns with both the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2026. He must also come clean about loud allegations that he is potentially a political “hawk” by day and an “owl” by night, in relation to his purported “membership” of the APC and “friendship” with ADC movers and shakers.”The statement read.