By Our Reporter
The De-Group Kogi West O’Clock has declared that its campaign for the rotation of the Kogi State governorship to the Western Senatorial District in 2027 remains non-negotiable.
The group made the declaration during a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Lokoja, where its leaders outlined their position on the emerging debate over the state’s political succession.
The spokesperson, Barrister Shaba Ibrahim, a former member of the House of Representatives, said the call for power rotation was rooted in the group’s interpretation of equity and political fairness.
Ibrahim said the debate was not a new development, recalling that the issue had featured in political discussions during the administrations of former governors Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada.
He said the group accepted an invitation to the recent government-organised power-shift summit because it believed the gathering would encourage dialogue.
According to him, the experience at the venue did not meet that expectation.
“We were invited to the summit which was supposed to advocate peace, but some of our delegates were intimidated. Our supporters were harassed and our banners were destroyed.”
The allegation has not been independently established in the material provided for this report.
Ododo’s Second-Term Right
The former federal lawmaker acknowledged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s constitutional right to seek re-election.
He nevertheless maintained that the right to contest an election was separate from the political demand for power rotation.
“The Governor has a constitutional right to a second term, but that cannot stop our agitation.”
The distinction is significant because the debate over Kogi’s 2027 governorship has increasingly involved questions about constitutional eligibility, party politics, zoning and informal expectations surrounding rotation.
Other groups have also been participating in the debate, with some advocating alternative arrangements for the timing of power rotation.
Community Groups Back Agitation
Representing the Dankwo Development Forum, Alhaji Sulaiman Baba said several community-based organisations were supporting the demand because of their belief in equity and fairness.
He said the forum presented seven recommendations at the summit, including a proposal for the rotation of power to Kogi West from 2027.
Baba also alleged that supporters of the power-shift campaign were subjected to harassment and that their banners were destroyed at the venue.
Retired Colonel Kabir Ndamadu Mohammed described the alleged development as “a show of shame,” insisting that supporters of rotation would remain committed to their position.
The gathering was attended by former NNPCL Director Alhaji Bala Haruna, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Baba, Alhaji Hamisu Nayashi and retired Colonel Ndamadu Mohammed, among others.
The Kogi West campaign is now one of the prominent issues shaping discussions around the state’s 2027 governorship succession. Recent public interventions show that the three senatorial districts have differing views on how and when political power should rotate.