Kogi West Stakeholders Warn Against Alleged Attempt to Subvert APC Senatorial Primary Outcome
The stakeholders in Kogi West Senatorial District have raised concerns over what they described as alleged attempts by external political forces to undermine the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election in the district.
In a statement issued by Chief Aiyenale Fred in Abuja, the group insisted that the people of Kogi West and the Okun ethnic bloc would continue to resist any form of political imposition capable of undermining the democratic will of the electorate.
The statement described the current political situation in the district as a major test of democratic integrity, stressing that the battle was between “the sovereign will of the people and desperate political interests seeking to manipulate the process.”
According to the statement, the APC senatorial primary election was conducted openly and transparently, with the participation of party officials, security agencies and electoral observers.
The stakeholders maintained that the exercise was widely monitored and documented across several media platforms, adding that the process followed laid down democratic procedures.
They stated that serving political appointees and local party leaders acted as returning officers during the exercise, while votes were allegedly counted openly at ward and local government collation centres in the presence of party agents and officials.
The statement further claimed that Senator Sunday Karimi secured the highest number of votes during the primary and was subsequently declared winner and returned as the APC senatorial candidate for the 2027 election.
According to the group, the final collation and declaration took place at the senatorial headquarters where results were reportedly recounted and endorsed by relevant officials.
Chief Aiyenale Fred, however, expressed concern over what he described as attempts by certain political actors and influential interests outside the district to alter the outcome of the exercise.
He alleged that efforts were being made to revive the political ambition of a former aspirant who had earlier stepped down from the race, insisting that such moves lacked both political and legal justification.
The statement argued that any attempt to alter the already concluded process would amount to an attack on democratic principles and the collective mandate of the people of Kogi West.
“A people who freely participated in an electoral process and overwhelmingly supported a candidate cannot accept any attempt to rewrite the outcome through political pressure or manipulation,” the statement noted.
The stakeholders warned against external interference in the political affairs of Kogi West, insisting that the district had become politically enlightened and would no longer tolerate imposition of candidates.
They emphasized that the people of Okunland had resolved to defend what they described as the integrity of their political leadership selection process.
The statement further noted that the growing reactions across the district should serve as a signal that the electorate remained determined to protect their mandate.
While calling for calm and adherence to due process, the group urged party leaders and relevant stakeholders to respect the outcome of the primary election and avoid actions capable of causing division within the APC.
The statement concluded that the political future of Kogi West should be determined solely by the people of the district through credible democratic processes.
