KOGI WEST APC: LET FACTS, NOT PROPAGANDA, PREVAIL.
By DSSK Lokoja News Desk.
Our attention has been drawn to a press statement titled “Kogi West Rescue Mission 2027” issued by supporters of Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola.
Ordinarily, every member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the constitutional right to seek redress where he believes an injustice has occurred. However, such rights must be exercised with respect for due process and established party mechanisms, not through media trials or emotional narratives intended to sway public opinion.
- Advertisement -
First, the repeated assertion that Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola “won” the primary remains a claim, not an established fact accepted by the party. In every democracy, the authority to determine the authentic outcome of a primary election rests with the party and, where necessary, the courts, not with pressure groups or self appointed stakeholders issuing press statements.
Furthermore, the attempt to portray Senator Sunday Steve Karimi’s emergence as a product of “political influence” rather than party processes is unfair and unsupported by evidence. Senator Karimi is not a newcomer in Kogi politics. His political relevance predates the current contest, having served in the House of Representatives before earning the confidence of the people to represent Kogi West in the Senate. His political strength is rooted in years of engagement with the electorate, not in media propaganda.
Equally important, the reference to Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke appears calculated to drag a respected APC leader into a dispute without any credible evidence that he manipulated the primary process. Hon. Faleke has, over the years, remained one of the strongest pillars of the APC, contributing immensely to the growth and electoral success of the party both in Kogi State and nationally. Political influence should not be confused with political interference. Leadership and mentorship are legitimate aspects of democratic politics.
Indeed, Nigerian political history is replete with examples where party leaders supported aspirants through lawful political consultations. Such consultations do not invalidate the democratic process. What matters is whether the party’s rules were followed and whether the appropriate organs of the party have spoken.
Moreover, the argument on zoning or rotation, though politically appealing, has no binding constitutional provision within the APC that automatically disqualifies any eligible aspirant. Rotation is a political understanding in some circumstances, not a legally enforceable principle that overrides the choice made through party procedures.
Similarly, the claim that “the people of Lokoja Kogi Federal Constituency have spoken” is an overgeneralisation. Kogi West Senatorial District comprises seven Local Government Areas, and no individual or group can legitimately claim to speak for every stakeholder, or every party member without verifiable evidence.
On the allegation of conflicting results, the proper forum for resolving such issues is the APC’s internal appeal mechanism and, where applicable, the courts. The media cannot authenticate election results. Therefore, while any aggrieved aspirant is entitled to seek lawful redress, it is inappropriate to declare victory through newspaper headlines or press releases before the competent authorities conclude their work.
History offers several examples within Nigeria where disputes arising from party primaries were eventually settled by party organs or the judiciary rather than by public campaigns. That is precisely why our laws provide internal dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure that evidence, not sentiment, determines the outcome.
So, we urge all parties faithfully to refrain from inflammatory words capable of deepening divisions within the APC. The greatest beneficiaries of internal acrimony are opposition parties. Responsible leaders should therefore promote reconciliation instead of encouraging narratives that could weaken our collective electoral strength.
Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has consistently appealed for unity and remains committed to the progress of the APC in Kogi West. We believe every aspirant deserves respect, but respect must also be extended to the decisions and institutions of the party.
Finally, we call on all stakeholders to allow the APC NWC, appealed committee and Inec to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without intimidation or unnecessary media pressure. The strength of our party lies in its institutions, not in competing press statements or protest.
The APC has overcome similar internal contests in the past and emerged stronger because members ultimately respected the party’s decisions. We are confident that this occasion will not be different.
The future of Kogi West will be secured through unity, lawful conduct, and respect for due process not through propaganda or attempts to delegitimise fellow party members.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 9TH 2026)
