Ohikere Demands Kogi Governorship Rotation to West, Rejects Proposed Power Rotation Summit
Dr. Tom Ohikere, a former two-term Commissioner for Information in Kogi State and Convener of the Coalition for Better Kogi State, has called for the rotation of the Kogi State governorship to Kogi West in 2028.
Ohikere, who made the demand at a national press conference in Abuja on September 28, 2026, said his position was informed by what he described as the need for equity, inclusion and political balance among the three senatorial districts of the state.
The former commissioner, who identified himself as an Ebira man from Okene in Kogi Central, said he was speaking from the perspective of someone who had served in government and travelled across all 21 local government areas of the state.
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He argued that Kogi East had produced successive governors for several years, while Kogi Central had also occupied the governorship, but Kogi West had yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state.
According to him, the succession of Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada placed Kogi East’s period of executive leadership at several years, while Yahaya Bello and the incumbent Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo represent Kogi Central’s period in the governorship. The Kogi State Government’s records confirm that Ibrahim Idris served as governor from 2003 to 2012, while Idris Wada served from 2012 to 2016, followed by Yahaya Bello and subsequently Ododo. �
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Ohikere described the situation as “17-10-0,” projecting it as “17-12-0 by January 2028,” and argued that the next turn should be Kogi West’s.
“My zone, Kogi Central, did eight years under Yahaya Bello and is doing two years plus under Usman Ododo. Yet I stand here today with the Coalition for Better Kogi State to say: Power must rotate to Kogi West in 2028,” he said.
He gave five reasons for his position, citing justice, peace, capacity, political precedent and what he described as political common sense.
On justice and inclusion, Ohikere argued that all three senatorial districts should have a sense of belonging in the political leadership of the state. He likened Kogi to a three-legged stool, arguing that sustainable political balance requires each of the three zones to have an opportunity to lead.
He also linked political inclusion to peace and electoral confidence, contending that a clear understanding on zoning could reduce tensions associated with governorship contests.
On the capacity of Kogi West, the former commissioner highlighted the zone’s political, economic and geographical significance, pointing to Lokoja, major industrial establishments and agricultural activities within the area.
He further argued that rotation, although not expressly provided for in the Constitution as a requirement for governorship, has historically been used as a political arrangement by parties and stakeholders to manage power-sharing and build consensus.
Rejects Proposed Rotation Summit
Ohikere also rejected a proposed “Kogi Unity and Power Rotation Summit” reportedly scheduled for September 30 to October 1, 2026, describing it as a “pseudo-rotation summit.”
He alleged that the meeting was being convened by serving government officials rather than as a neutral, broad-based citizens’ forum.
According to him, officials who are beneficiaries of the existing political arrangement cannot simultaneously serve as neutral arbiters of the question of where power should go next.
He also questioned the relevance of another conference to determine whether Kogi West should be considered for the governorship, arguing that the central issue should be how to establish a fair political pathway for the three senatorial districts.
“We will not attend. We will not send representatives. We will not give legitimacy to a meeting of appointees pretending to be stakeholders,” he declared.
Ohikere nevertheless said his coalition was not opposed to dialogue, stressing that it favoured discussions capable of producing what he called political equity and unity.
Coalition Plans National Summit
The former commissioner announced that the Coalition for Better Kogi State would organise its own national summit in Abuja in the third week of October 2026.
The proposed summit, he said, would be titled “Kogi Equity, Unity and Rotation National Summit,” with the theme: “From 17-12-0 to 17-12-8: Building a Fair Kogi for All.”
He said the meeting would bring together stakeholders, particularly from Kogi East and Kogi West, alongside individuals from Kogi Central who support the principle of political equity.
According to him, the summit is expected to produce a “Kogi Charter of Equity” which would subsequently be presented to political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders.
Ohikere concluded by reiterating that his call was not targeted at any individual or political party but was based on his interpretation of equitable power-sharing in the state.
“Kogi East has governed. Kogi Central has governed. Kogi West has not. That is history,” he said, insisting that the West’s demand should be treated as a question of inclusion rather than political favour.
He added: “Kogi West is not asking for dash. They are asking for what is fair. They are not asking others to vanish. They are asking to be included.”
His call adds another voice to the ongoing political debate over zoning and power rotation ahead of the 2028 Kogi governorship contest.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper September 28, 2026
