The battle for the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket in Kogi West intensified on Thursday as the APC campaign organization demanded that Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola be declared the winner by the party's national secretariat.
Campaign Rejects Other Candidates
The group insisted that neither Senator Sunday Karimi nor Honorable Samuel Aro deserves any victory based on results that emerged from the polls across the senatorial zone. The demand was contained in a statement issued by Bala Maiyaki in Lokoja on Thursday.
Praise for Presidential Primary
The organization applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at the APC presidential primary, describing it as proof of the confidence reposed in him by party members nationwide. It also commended APC National Chairman Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and members of the National Working Committee for conducting what it called a transparent and hitch-free presidential primary.
Maiyaki stated, “On the Kogi West primary, the organization insisted that Ustaz Ola secured the highest number of genuine and verifiable votes cast by delegates. It raised questions over figures being linked to Senator Sunday Karimi and Honorable Samuel Aro, who had earlier withdrawn from the race, describing them as inconsistent and conflicting.”
Call for Equity and Justice
According to the campaign, the votes for Ustaz Ola reflect the demand for equity and justice in Kogi West, noting that the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency has not produced a senator in 20 years. The group pointed to the African Democratic Congress as an example, stating that the ADC had zoned its Kogi West senatorial ticket to the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency in the interest of fairness.
Allegations of Manipulation
It further alleged that certain individuals met privately to allocate contradictory figures to their preferred aspirants, a move it said disenfranchised card-carrying APC members in several wards. The organization warned that the APC could not build unity on exclusion and falsified results, adding that upholding the authentic outcome would reinforce the party’s commitment to due process.
Demand for Official Declaration
It called on the NWC to defend the integrity of the process, honor the will of delegates, and announce Ustaz Ola as the duly elected APC candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District. The statement also advised former Governor Yahaya Bello to steer clear of Kogi West electoral matters, noting that Kogi Central is currently facing unresolved disputes over its own senatorial primary.
