Is the Fight Against Dr. Mahmoud, or Against the Growth of Kogi East?
By Yusuf Adama
Let us stop pretending that everything happening around the APC senatorial ticket in Kogi East is normal. It is not. Yes, there are many aspirants in this race. Yes, they are all qualified in their own ways. And yes, they all have the right to aspire. But let us not hide behind politeness to avoid the real issue. This moment is not about participation, it is about selection. And more importantly, it is about intention.
Because when a region like Kogi East is presented with a candidate who clearly stands out in terms of exposure, access, policy understanding, and national relevance, yet the system appears to be tilting away from him, then it is only fair to ask:
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What exactly is going on?
Is it that Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa is not qualified enough? That would be dishonest. Is it that he lacks experience? That would ignore years of involvement in governance, policy advisory roles, national reform efforts, and political participation at the highest levels.
So what is it? Why does a candidate with clear advantages suddenly become the uncomfortable option?
The truth is, in politics, strength is not always celebrated. Sometimes, it is feared. A man who has built himself intellectually, financially, and strategically is not easy to manage. A man who is not desperate for political validation is not easy to control. A man who already has access before holding office changes the usual equation of power. And that is where the real conversation begins.
Is the concern that Dr. Mahmoud is too independent? Is it that he already has strong national connections, the kind that can open doors beyond local gatekeeping? Is it that he represents a shift from the familiar pattern where representation is more about survival than impact? Or is it simply that he does not fit into a system that prefers familiarity over capacity?
These are uncomfortable questions, but they are necessary. Because what is being quietly arranged as “consensus” or “direct primaries” begins to look less like agreement and more like direction. And when direction ignores merit, it raises suspicion.
Let us speak plainly.
The Igala and Bassa people, have not suffered from a lack of political participation. What it has suffered from is a lack of strong, effective, and respected representation at the national level. We have had presence, but lacked influence. We have had occupants of office, but lacked voices that can sit where decisions are made and command attention. That is why this moment matters.
Because for once, the region is not short of a candidate who can break that pattern. For once, there is someone who brings not just ambition, but preparation. Not just desire, but access. Not just presence, but weight. And yet, that is the candidate that appears to be their problem.
So, is this resistance truly about Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa, or is it about what he represents?
Because if a system consistently moves against its strongest option, then it is not protecting the people, it is protecting itself. If a region is repeatedly guided away from its most prepared voices, then it is not being helped, it is being managed. And if leadership at any level becomes uncomfortable with excellence, independence, and capacity, then what exactly is it trying to preserve?
Certainly not growth. Certainly not progress. And certainly not the future of Kogi East.
It is even more troubling when you consider what is at stake. At a time when national relevance is built on networks, negotiation, and strategic positioning, Kogi East cannot afford another cycle of average representation. It cannot afford another occupant who will merely warm a seat while others shape the future.
That season must end, because every time a region chooses comfort over capacity, it delays its own rise. Every time it accepts less than its best, it weakens its voice where it matters most. And every time a prepared, capable, and connected candidate is sidelined, it sends a message; not just within the state, but beyond it, that Kogi East is not yet ready to take its place at the table.
But perhaps the most important question is this:
If all the qualities that define Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa; his competence, his exposure, his independence, his network, are seen as reasons for hesitation, then what exactly is being preferred in their place? Because whatever that answer is will define the future of Kogi East more than any campaign promise ever will.
This is no longer just a political decision, it is a test. A test of whether Kogi East will finally choose strength over familiarity, capacity over comfort, and future over convenience. And like every test, it will be defined by outcomes.
So when the decision is eventually made, let no one pretend it was neutral. Let no one say it was just politics. Because history will ask a simple question:
When the opportunity to choose differently came, what did Kogi East do with it?
And the answer will either speak of courage… Or confirm a pattern that many are already beginning to understand.
So once again: Is the fight truly against Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa, or against the growth of Kogi East?
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MAY 5TH 2026)
