APC Reps Primaries: Abejide, Abdulkareem, Halims, Ogembe Emerge Winners In Kogi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday conducted its House of Representatives primary elections across Kogi State, with several serving lawmakers and new entrants emerging victorious.

In Yagba Federal Constituency, incumbent lawmaker Hon. Leke Abejide secured the party’s ticket after defeating Pastor Babagbemi in the direct primary election.

Results announced in Takete Ide/Otafun Ward 07 showed that Abejide polled 892 votes, while Babagbemi scored two votes.

Also victorious were Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulkareem, representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, and Hon. Abdullahi Ali Halims of Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency, who both clinched the APC tickets in their respective constituencies.

In Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituency, Sanni Salau Ogembe, a new entrant, emerged winner of the primary election.

Similarly, Hon. Suleiman Danladi Aguye emerged unopposed as the APC candidate for Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency. He is the current member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives.

The primaries were conducted across the ten wards in Lokoja I and II, as well as the ten wards of Kogi Local Government Area, with party officials and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observers monitoring the exercise.

Speaking after the election, Abdulkareem commended his constituents for their peaceful conduct and participation in the process.

“My good people, thank you for standing up today and making your voices heard,” he said. “Seeing you come out in your numbers to exercise your voting rights fills me with pride and gratitude.

“What made me even prouder is how you conducted yourselves — peacefully, orderly, and committed to a process that was free and fair.”

At the Lokoja collation centre, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar, said he was not surprised by Aguye’s victory, describing him as a popular choice.

In his acceptance remarks, Aguye appreciated former Governor Yahaya Bello, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, political leader Engr. Bashir Gegu, former Speaker Hon. Alfa Imam, and APC stakeholders in Lokoja and Kogi LGAs for their support.

Across the state, APC members commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise, noting that the direct primary system allowed members to freely choose candidates.

However, the process was not without controversy, as some aspirants alleged irregularities in certain constituencies.

One aspirant in Okene/Ogori-Magongo, Muhammed Yahaya Dongo, accused party officials of lacking transparency, alleging manipulation in some wards and absence of INEC officials.

Despite the complaints, turnout was high in several areas, especially in Mopamuro Local Government Area, where party members participated massively.

Reacting on Facebook, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, praised the participation of party members, describing the process as transparent and democratic.

Earlier, APC electoral officers reaffirmed the party’s commitment to conducting credible and fair primaries across Kogi State.