Kogi APC Senator Suspended Over Anti-Party Activities, Failure to Deliver Polling Unit

A fresh crisis has erupted in the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State following the suspension of Senator Jibrin Isah, popularly known as Echocho, by executives of APC Odu Ward 2 in Dekina Local Government Area.

The ward executives accused the lawmaker of engaging in anti-party activities and allegedly working against the interests of the party during previous governorship elections in the state.

In a suspension letter dated May 26 and addressed to the APC state chairman in Lokoja, the ward leaders claimed the senator failed to deliver his polling unit for the party during the 2019 and 2023 governorship polls.

According to the executives, the senator allegedly undermined the party in his ward, local government area and across Kogi East during the elections.

The ward officials further accused the senator of maintaining close political contacts with opposition figures and holding meetings with rival political parties.

They described the alleged actions as conduct unbecoming of a senior member of the ruling party.

The executives said the decision to suspend the senator was reached during a meeting held by the ward leadership on May 26.

They added that the action was necessary to serve as a warning to party members allegedly working against the interests of the APC in the state.

However, the senator’s camp has rejected the suspension, describing it as baseless and politically motivated.

Reacting to the development, Mikail Ibrahim, media aide to Senator Echocho, dismissed the move as lacking procedural backing and credibility.

He insisted that the senator remained loyal to the APC and contributed significantly to the party’s victories in Kogi State.

Ibrahim said the allegation that the senator lost his polling unit during the elections was false.

According to him, the lawmaker delivered substantial votes for the party in both the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections despite what he described as political pressure in the district.

The aide also defended the senator’s recent empowerment programme, saying it was aimed at strengthening the APC structure across Kogi East.

He said vehicles were distributed to local government party chairmen, while tricycles and support packages were also given to party stakeholders, youth leaders, women groups and mobilisers in the district.

Ibrahim further highlighted several projects allegedly facilitated by the senator across Kogi East.

He listed school renovation projects, primary healthcare centres, solar-powered streetlights, cottage industries and support for local security structures among the senator’s interventions.

Describing the suspension as “a poorly conceived social media trial”, the aide urged party supporters and members of the public to disregard the announcement.

He maintained that political propaganda and intimidation would not erase the senator’s contributions to the growth of the APC and development efforts in Kogi East.