The expiration of the current administration in Kogi State led by Alhaji Yahaya Bello is on January 27, 2024. This signals the forthcoming governorship election in the state, which has been scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for November 11.
However, before the election, political parties will hold their primaries to select their flag-bearers, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) being a prominent contender.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that sspiring candidates under the APC have been engaging in a high-stakes game of politicking and maneuvering, all seeking to succeed the outgoing governor on the party’s platform.
The outcome of their efforts is expected to be announced today (Friday), as one among the contestants will be declared the party’s flag bearer.
Before today, the APC in Kogi State has screened 19 individuals who had expressed interest in running for the party’s ticket. Out of these, 17 have been deemed qualified to compete in the primaries.
One of the aspirants, James Abiodun Faleke, who had earlier purchased the expression of interest form, withdrew from the race citing personal reasons. Faleke, who is the secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, returned the nomination form to the screening committee.
The 17 contenders who have been cleared to participate in the APC primaries are:
1. Abdukareem Jamiu
2. Sanusi Ohiare
3. Ahmed Ododo
4. Salami Deedat
5. Shuaibu Audu
6. Yakubu Oseni
7. Momoh Jibri
8. Yusuf Okala
9. Ashiru Idris
10. Stephen Ocheni
11. Abubakar Achimugu
12. Idachaba Friday
13. Salaudeen Abdkudus
14. David Jimoh
15. Smart Adeyemi
16. Muritala Ajaka
17. Halima Alfa
Among these contenders, Smart Adeyemi, Asiwaju Idris and David Adebanji Jimoh are the leading names from the Kogi West senatorial district.
The Kogi Central senatorial district has several strong contenders, including Abdulkarim Jamiu Asuku, Jibril Momoh, Sanusi Ohiare, Salami Momodu Deedat and Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Senatorial District has an impressive list of potential candidates, including Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, Yusuf Yakub Okala, Shauibu Abubakar Audu, Idachaba Friday, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Senator Yakubu Oseni and former Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni.
The issue of power rotation
Interestingly, the party is embroiled in suspense and intrigue over who will clinch the party ticket for the upcoming elections. The issue of power rotation among the state’s senatorial districts is at the center of this debate.
The Kogi Youth Ambassadors (KYA), led by Prince Abdulsalaam Abdulraheem Ozianda, is advocating for other ethnic groups to have a chance at holding power. The group has members across all 21 local government areas in the state.
Similarly, Dr. Tom Ohikere, who is leading the Coalition of Kogi State Patriots, is pushing for power rotation to the West.
“From 1991 when the state was created, Kogi East has governed at different times for 20 years, uninterrupted. The governors were Abubakar Audu (National Republican Convention: 1992-1993), Abubakar Audu (All Peoples Party: 1999-2003), Ibrahim Idris (Peoples Democratic Party: 2003-2012), Idris Wada (PDP: 2012-2016),” he said.
It is worth noting that the incumbent, Yahaya Bello, is from Kogi Central and has served two terms. Some quarters believe that power should now shift to Kogi West due to this rotation agreement.
It remains to be seen whether this demand for power rotation will be actualized today.
Party opts for direct primary after court voided delegates’ list
A few days ago, a ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court nullified the list of delegates for the state All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the gubernatorial primary election scheduled for today.
According to Justice Omotosho, the ward and local government congresses that took place on February 7 did not comply with the Electoral Act 2022 and the APC’s constitution, hence the verdict.
To avoid legal issues, the APC has opted for a direct primary election instead of the earlier planned indirect one, which eliminates the need for delegates altogether.
The party made this known in a letter dated April 6, 2023, referring to an earlier letter sent to the Commission on January 25, 2023, where they notified the body of their preferred mode of primary election for the Kogi State gubernatorial race.
It reads in part: “We refer to our earlier letter dated January 25, 2023, with reference no: APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/023/191, wherein we notified the Commission of the mode of primary election for the conduct of the gubernatorial primary in Kogi State.
“However, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reviewed modalities for conduct of the primary, and has, therefore, resorted to adopt the direct mode of primary election instead of the indirect mode as earlier communicated.
Yahaya Bello reportedly names his successor a day to the primary
Adding to the excitement of the race for the party ticket, reports have emerged that the current governor, Yahaya Bello, had disclosed his preferred candidates among the 18 individuals vying for the ticket, just a day before the primary (yesterday).
The incumbent governor had apparently thrown his weight behind Ahmed Usman Ododo, a former Local Government Auditor General, as his preferred successor.
It is worth noting that Ododo and Bello hail from the same Kogi Central Senatorial Zone.
In what appears to be a show of solidarity, sources have also confirmed that Edward David Onoja, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, has withdrawn from the race. Several other candidates have also withdrawn from the race, including Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku (the Governor’s Chief of Staff), David Adebanji Jimoh (a former Commissioner for Finance), Asiwaju Ashiru Idris, Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jubril.
