KOGI WEST AT A POLITICAL CROSSROADS: WHY A RAINBOW COALITION SHOULD RALLY BEHIND SENATOR SUNDAY KARIMI
A Call for Political Unity, Popular Mandate and Responsible Representation
By Chief Aiyenale Fred, Abuja Nigeria
Politics, at its best, is not merely a contest for political offices. It is a mechanism through which citizens choose those they trust to protect their interests, articulate their aspirations and provide effective representation.
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As Kogi West Senatorial District approaches another decisive political season, there is a compelling need for political actors, community leaders, stakeholders, youth organisations, women groups, professionals, civil society actors and supporters across party lines to begin a new conversation about the future of the district.
That conversation should be anchored on one fundamental question:
Who has the capacity, experience, political reach and demonstrated commitment to effectively represent Kogi West and advance the interests of the people?
From this perspective, the case for Senator Sunday Steve Karimi deserves serious consideration.
THE CASE FOR A RAINBOW COALITION
Kogi West is politically diverse. Its seven local government areas; Lokoja, Kogi/Koton Karfe, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro contain different political traditions, interests, personalities and ideological tendencies.
That diversity should not be treated as a weakness.
It can become the foundation of a new political coalition.
A Rainbow Coalition for Kogi West should therefore not be conceived as a vehicle for one political party alone. It should be a broad platform of people united by a common objective: the emergence and consolidation of competent, accessible and development-oriented representation for Kogi West.
Such a coalition can bring together people who may disagree politically on many national and state issues but agree that Kogi West deserves effective representation.
The central principle should be simple: Kogi West first; political differences second.
This is where the candidacy and leadership record of Senator Sunday Karimi become particularly relevant.
KARIMI AND THE QUESTION OF POPULAR MANDATE
Senator Karimi’s political strength cannot be viewed only through the prism of party structures. His political relevance increasingly rests on the relationship he has built with constituents and grassroots stakeholders across Kogi West.
Senator Sunday Karimi is a senator who maintains a visible connection with the people and remains engaged with constituency concerns.
He enjoyed wider and popular support for his continuation from political stakeholders and youth organisations.
Most significantly, the May 2026 APC Kogi West senatorial primary produced a decisive result in his favour.
The declared result put Senator Karimi at 51,665 votes, ahead of the other aspirants.
Whatever political interpretation different actors may place on the internal contest, the numerical scale of that result is politically significant.
It demonstrates that Senator Karimi possesses a formidable political base within the party and provides an important platform from which broader political engagement can take place.
The next challenge, however, is larger than winning a party primary.
It is about building confidence across political, ethnic, religious, generational and geographical lines.
That is where the concept of a Rainbow Coalition becomes strategically important.
BEYOND PARTY POLITICS
The future of Kogi West should not be reduced to the question of which party wins an election.
The more important question is whether the people have a representative capable of turning political access into tangible development, legislative influence and opportunities for constituents.
A Rainbow Coalition supporting Senator Karimi should therefore not demand that every member abandon his or her political identity.
Rather, it should create a platform where people of different political persuasions can say:
“On this particular issue, we agree that Kogi West needs continuity, competence and effective representation.”
That distinction is important.
Political coalitions become sustainable when they are built around shared interests rather than personality worship.
WHY KARIMI?
The argument for Senator Karimi should ultimately be based on performance and capacity.
A senator is not elected merely to attend plenary sessions. The office requires the ability to understand legislation, participate effectively in committees, influence policy, attract development interventions, represent constituents and negotiate successfully within the broader political system.
Senator Karimi’s performance indicators point to his legislative activities, constituency engagement and interventions in areas including infrastructure, education, security and economic empowerment.
The people see him not simply as a politician seeking another term but as a legislator whose experience can be consolidated for greater impact.
That performance indicators has been tested through facts, records and measurable outcomes.
The evidence supports the claim of effective representation, then continuity becomes a legitimate political proposition.
KARIMI AS THE CONSCIENCE OF KOGI WEST
There is a powerful political symbolism in describing Senator Karimi as the conscience of Kogi West.
The phrase should not mean that every citizen must agree with him.
Rather, it should represent the expectation that the senator must remain conscious of the interests of the people he represents.
The conscience of a senatorial district must speak when the people are disadvantaged.
It must advocate when communities require federal attention.
It must question policies that negatively affect constituents.
It must promote projects that improve the quality of life.
And it must remember that political office is ultimately a trust.
This is the standard by which Senator Karimi is being judged and the standard to which any future representative should equally be held.
FROM POLITICAL SUPPORT TO POLITICAL MOVEMENT
There is a difference between an endorsement and a political movement.
An endorsement says:
“We support this candidate.”
A movement says:
“We have identified a political objective and are prepared to organise around it.”
Kogi West now needs the latter.
A properly organised Rainbow Coalition should establish structures across all seven local government areas and engage traditional institutions, youth leaders, women leaders, professional groups, community associations, religious stakeholders, opinion leaders and grassroots political actors.
Its message should be positive:
Unity.
Performance. Inclusion. Development. Representation.
It should reject political intimidation, personal attacks, hate speech, ethnic politics and the politics of exclusion.
Its campaign should be based on what Senator Karimi has done, what he can do and what the people expect him to do better.
A COALITION ACROSS PARTY LINES
The political genius of the Rainbow Coalition would be its ability to transcend conventional partisan boundaries.
A PDP and Accord Party supporter can support a development agenda.
An APC supporter can support continuity.
An SDP and ADC supporter can support competent representation.
A Labour Party and NDC supporter can support accountability.
A non-partisan citizen can support a candidate based on performance.
The coalition should therefore not ask:
“Which party do you belong to?”
Its first question should be:
“What do you want for Kogi West?”
If the answer is effective representation, development, legislative competence and inclusive leadership, then there is sufficient common ground for cooperation.
THE SEVEN-LOCAL-GOVERNMENT TEST
A genuine Rainbow Coalition must not be dominated by one town, one local government or one political interest.
Its strength must be measured across the entire senatorial district.
From Lokoja to Koton Karfe; Kabba to Bunu; Ijumu to Mopamuro; Yagba East to Yagba West, the coalition must communicate one message:
Every community matters.
Kogi West cannot afford a representative who is strong in one political constituency but disconnected from others.
The objective should be a senator who understands the diversity of the district and can transform that diversity into collective political strength.
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE MATTERS
At a time when governance is becoming increasingly complex, legislative experience is an asset.
The National Assembly requires more than popularity. It requires knowledge of parliamentary procedure, legislation, committee work, budget processes, oversight, policy negotiation and political diplomacy.
A senator who has already acquired experience in these areas enters the contest with an advantage that a first-time legislator or first time senator cannot possess. The politics and legislative diplomacy of the red chamber of the national assembly (The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) is a different political house above any other legislative chambers.
For Kogi West, the question should therefore be:
Do we want to restart the learning curve, or consolidate the experience already acquired while demanding even greater performance?
That is the fundamental argument behind continuity.
Continuity should never mean complacency.
It should mean continuity with accountability, continuity with higher expectations and continuity with measurable targets.
A NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH THE PEOPLE
Let’s support Senator Karimi to become the Rainbow Coalition’s consensus candidate and endorse him with a clear social contract.
The coalition should demand:
1. Stronger constituency representation.
2. Greater legislative visibility.
3. More constituency development initiatives.
4. Greater attention to youth employment and entrepreneurship.
5. Expanded opportunities for women and vulnerable groups.
6. More interventions in education and healthcare.
7. Improved advocacy for roads, infrastructure and rural development.
8. Regular constituency engagement and town-hall meetings.
9. Transparent communication of legislative achievements.
10. A clear development agenda for all seven local government areas.
This will transforms the endorsement from a political slogan into a performance contract with the people.
THE POLITICS OF RECONCILIATION
Kogi West does not need another season of destructive political warfare.
It needs reconciliation.
Those who contested against Senator Karimi should not be treated as enemies. Their supporters should not be excluded from the political process.
A Rainbow Coalition should be broad enough to welcome former opponents, former aspirants, political leaders and ordinary citizens who are prepared to work for the collective interest of Kogi West.
The message should be:
The contest is over; the work of development continues.
This is how political maturity is demonstrated.
KARIMI AND THE FUTURE OF KOGI STATE
Although Senator Karimi represents Kogi West, effective senatorial representation has implications beyond the district.
A strong Kogi West senator can contribute to the political and developmental conversation of the entire state.
Kogi needs legislators who can build bridges between the state and federal institutions, attract attention to state-wide challenges and participate meaningfully in national policy discussions.
Senator Karimi’s legislative experience positions him to play such a role.
The opportunity, therefore, is not simply about retaining a Senate seat.
It is about building a stronger voice for Kogi State within the National Assembly and in the affairs of Kogi State.
THE CALL FOR A RAINBOW CONSENSUS
The time has come for stakeholders who believe in competent and accountable representation to begin serious consultations toward establishing a Kogi West Rainbow Coalition.
The coalition should be democratic, inclusive and transparent.
It should consult widely.
It should listen to the people.
It should examine Senator Karimi’s record.
It should identify areas where he needs to improve.
And, having established that he remains the strongest option for the district, it should formally adopt him as its Consensus Candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District.
Such an endorsement would carry greater political weight if it emerges from broad consultation rather than from the decision of a few political actors.
THE CHOICE BEFORE KOGI WEST
Every election eventually comes down to a choice.
Kogi West must choose between politics of division and politics of coalition.
Between personality politics and performance politics.
Between perpetual political warfare and strategic cooperation.
Between starting afresh and consolidating proven legislative experience.
The Rainbow Coalition represents an opportunity to make that choice deliberately.
Senator Sunday Karimi has demonstrated political resilience, legislative experience and a substantial grassroots base. His victory in the 2026 APC senatorial primary further demonstrates the depth of his political organisation within the party.
The next step is to convert that political strength into a broader platform of inclusion.
CONCLUSION: LET KOGI WEST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE
Kogi West is bigger than any individual politician.
It is bigger than any political party.
It is bigger than any faction.
Its future belongs to its people.
That is why the proposed Rainbow Coalition should be built not as a machinery for political exclusion, but as a people-centred platform for unity, continuity and development.
With the people resolve and conclusion that Senator Sunday Karimi remains the candidate best positioned to represent their collective aspirations, then political leaders across divides should have the courage to unite behind that verdict.
The objective should be clear:
ONE KOGI WEST. ONE PEOPLE.
ONE COMMON AGENDA.
A RAINBOW COALITION FOR COMPETENT REPRESENTATION.
SENATOR SUNDAY KARIMI: THE CONSENSUS CHOICE FOR KOGI WEST.
The time has come for Kogi West to move beyond the politics of who defeated whom and embrace the politics of what we can achieve together.
That is the real meaning of a Rainbow Coalition.
And that is the political conversation Kogi West deserves.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER 10TH AUGUST, 2026)
