By Yahaya Idris, Lokoja
Political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the debate over representation, performance and continuity in Kogi West Senatorial District is increasingly drawing attention to Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, whose supporters describe him as a distinguished lawmaker with a growing record of interventions in education, security, infrastructure and human capital development.
Popularly portrayed as “the diamond in the rough” and “the onion with many peels,” Karimi represents what his admirers consider a blend of legislative experience, strategic influence, grassroots engagement and personal commitment to constituency development.
Since assuming office in 2023, the senator, who represents Kogi West on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been credited by his supporters with attracting projects and funding across several sectors.
For his backers, the question ahead of 2027 is not merely whether Karimi should return to the Senate, but whether Kogi West can afford to interrupt what they describe as a period of strategic representation and expanding federal influence.
Education: Karimi’s Major Constituency Intervention
Education occupies a prominent place in the achievements attributed to the senator.
One of the flagship projects cited by his supporters is the remodelling of Government Science Secondary School, Koton-Karfe, reportedly facilitated through the National Senior Secondary Education Commission at a cost exceeding N1.2 billion.
The intervention has been presented by his camp as one of the most significant educational infrastructure projects attracted to Kogi West by a sitting legislator.
At Titcombe College, Egbe, Karimi’s alma mater, he reportedly provided a 288-seat, solar-powered Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre valued at more than N350 million. The facility is said to have hosted over 1,200 candidates during the last Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination cycle.
His supporters also point to three additional CBT centres reportedly captured in the 2026 appropriation for Muslim Community Secondary School, Lokogoma, in Lokoja Local Government Area; Government Science School, Iyara, in Ijumu Local Government Area; and Okutadudu Comprehensive College, Odo-Ere, in Yagba West Local Government Area.
Each centre is expected to accommodate 275 candidates and feature computers, internet connectivity, CCTV surveillance, solar power and generators.
A fourth centre at ECWA Secondary School, Mopa, is reportedly being funded personally by the senator.
If completed and sustained, the facilities could expand access to computer-based examinations, improve digital literacy and reduce the difficulties students encounter when seeking suitable examination centres.
Bursary Scheme Targets Thousands of Students
Beyond physical infrastructure, Karimi’s supporters highlight his bursary programme as another major component of his educational intervention.
According to figures provided by his camp, 1,000 students received N100,000 each in 2024, while 3,000 students benefited from a N300 million scheme for 2025, reportedly disbursed in January 2026.
A further N300 million bursary programme has been announced for 3,000 students across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State.
The proposed distribution comprises 1,390 beneficiaries from Kogi West, 1,000 from Kogi East and 610 from Kogi Central.
The application portal was scheduled to open from August 20 to September 20, 2026, with disbursement expected to commence in November, according to the information supplied by his supporters.
The scheme, which is reportedly personally funded by Karimi, has been described by his camp as one of the largest individual legislator-sponsored student bursary interventions in the state.
For many students and families, such assistance can help offset the cost of tuition-related expenses, learning materials and other educational needs.
Security: N750 Million Forward Operating Base
Security remains another defining issue in the argument for Karimi’s continued representation.
At a time when communities around the Kogi-Kwara boundary were grappling with kidnapping and other security threats, the senator reportedly committed N750 million in personal funds to the construction, furnishing and equipping of a 94-bed military Forward Operating Base in Egbe.
His supporters also attribute to him the donation of two Hilux patrol vehicles and efforts that facilitated troop deployment to Jege, Odo-Ere, Isanlu and Olle-Bunu.
The facility was commissioned by the Chief of Army Staff on October 12, 2024, according to the account provided by his camp.
The intervention has been presented as evidence of a hands-on approach to constituency security rather than reliance on legislative motions alone.
His supporters further say that the senator received recognition as Nigeria’s Most Security-Conscious Senator.
Nevertheless, the ultimate measure of such an intervention lies in sustained improvements in public safety, effective military operations and the protection of residents, farmers, commuters and businesses across the affected communities.
Roads and Bridges: Pursuit of Federal Infrastructure
Infrastructure development also features prominently in the case being made for Karimi’s re-election.
Among the projects credited to him is the reconstruction of the collapsed Pakuta Bridge, which links Aiyegunle Gbede with Kiri, Kupa and communities extending towards Niger State.
The bridge was reportedly reconstructed with N23 million in personal funds.
His supporters also point to efforts to secure funding for the Iluhagba-Mopa-Isanlu-Egbe road project, citing N3 billion in the 2025 budget and an additional N6 billion reportedly secured through the Minister of Works.
The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CGC) was said to have been mobilised to the project site.
Another major intervention concerns the Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road, which had reportedly suffered prolonged abandonment. Karimi’s camp says N2 billion, alongside an additional N6 billion, was attracted to facilitate the return of the contractor after approximately 11 years.
These projects are particularly important to rural communities where road conditions affect agricultural transportation, access to schools and hospitals, commercial activities and the movement of security personnel.
However, the practical impact will ultimately depend on construction progress, quality, completion timelines and the availability of funds.
Water, Electricity and Solar Streetlights
Karimi’s constituency interventions, according to his supporters, also extend to water supply and electricity infrastructure.
His record is said to include 85 solar-powered boreholes, reportedly distributed at one per ward, alongside more than 75 additional boreholes facilitated and over 60 rehabilitated.
At a town hall meeting in Lokoja in August 2026, the senator reportedly announced plans for 22 solar-powered motorised boreholes, as well as five industrial boreholes intended for Lokoja metropolis.
In electricity infrastructure, more than 32 transformers have reportedly been facilitated for communities, including Sarki Noma, Mount Patti and Obajana.
His supporters also cite the installation of more than 500 solar-powered streetlights across 62 communities.
Reliable water supply, improved electricity distribution and functional streetlighting can contribute to better living conditions, strengthen local businesses and improve security in residential areas.
For communities that have endured years of inadequate public utilities, the sustainability of these interventions will be as important as the number of projects delivered.
Women’s Empowerment and Economic Opportunities
Women’s economic empowerment forms another part of the senator’s reported constituency programme.
According to his supporters, 50 women’s cooperative groups received N2 million each, amounting to N100 million, following business training.
The initiative is intended to strengthen small businesses, improve household incomes and expand women’s participation in local economic activities.
If effectively monitored, such support could help beneficiaries invest in trading, agriculture, food processing and other small-scale enterprises.
The long-term success of the programme, however, will depend on the productive use of the funds, business sustainability and the ability of beneficiaries to generate lasting income.
Legislative Agenda: Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba
Beyond constituency projects, Karimi’s legislative agenda includes a renewed push for the establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture in Kabba.
His supporters say the bill has passed the necessary legislative stages and is awaiting presidential assent.
If enacted, the proposed institution could expand access to higher education, support agricultural research and create opportunities for students, academics and businesses across Kogi State and neighbouring communities.
https://globaltimesnigeria.com/2026/10/08/oborevwori-tinubu-security-reforms-army-92rri-recruitment/
The senator is also credited with supporting legislation aimed at preventing the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and deputy governors from engaging in partisan politics.
These initiatives form part of the broader argument that his performance should be assessed not only through physical projects but also through legislation capable of producing long-term institutional and economic benefits.
A Senator Who Maintains Contact With His Constituents
One of the arguments frequently advanced by Karimi’s supporters is his continued engagement with constituents outside Abuja.
His town hall meetings across Lokoja, Kabba, Isanlu, Mopa and Egbe in August 2026 were presented as platforms for accountability, feedback and interaction between the senator and the people he represents.
The meetings reportedly attracted traditional rulers, youth organisations, market women, student groups and political stakeholders.
His supporters describe the gatherings as evidence that the senator remains connected to the communities whose interests he represents at the National Assembly.
Town hall meetings can provide an important channel for residents to assess projects, raise concerns and communicate local priorities.
For the senator, maintaining this relationship will remain essential as constituents weigh his record against their expectations for the next four years.
Why Senate Ranking Matters to Kogi West
A central argument in favour of Karimi’s re-election is the value of legislative experience and institutional influence.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Karimi occupies a position that his supporters consider strategically important within the upper chamber.
They argue that retaining an experienced senator could help Kogi West preserve established relationships, strengthen its voice in legislative negotiations and improve its prospects of attracting federal attention.
In the Senate, experience, committee assignments and relationships can influence a lawmaker’s capacity to advocate for constituency priorities. However, no committee position automatically guarantees additional projects or leadership appointmen2023.
Karimi’s supporters nevertheless contend that returning him to the Senate in 2027 would preserve the political capital accumulated since 2023.
They also argue that continuity could strengthen ongoing efforts to establish the proposed Federal University of Agriculture in Kabba, pursue a proposed medical university in Egbe, expand CBT facilities and advance road projects across the district.
For them, the prospect of consolidating these initiatives represents one of the strongest reasons to support his return.
APC Structure and the 2027 Political Calculation
Karimi’s membership of the APC provides another dimension to the re-election argument.
The party has a significant political presence in Kogi West, and his supporters believe that the combination of party organisation and his constituency interventions could strengthen his prospects in 2027.
Yet electoral success will depend on more than party affiliation or the achievements claimed by a political camp. Voter satisfaction, the performance of ongoing projects, internal party dynamics, the strength of opponents and the credibility of the electoral process will all matter.
The senator’s challenge will therefore be to translate his reported achievements into demonstrable benefits that resonate with voters across the district’s communities.
For residents, the most important considerations remain practical: better schools, safer communities, reliable water, improved roads, electricity, employment opportunities and effective representation.
2027: The Case for Continuity, Consolidation and Accountability
The description of Sunday Steve Karimi as “the diamond in the rough” and “the onion with many peels” reflects his supporters’ belief that his experience as an engineer, former two-term member of the House of Representatives and current senator gives him a combination of technical knowledge and legislative experience.
They see in him a lawmaker whose influence extends from community-level interventions to committee responsibilities at the National Assembly.
From education and security to infrastructure, water supply and empowerment, the projects and programmes attributed to him provide the foundation of the argument his supporters intend to take to the electorate.
But a credible assessment of his record must also consider independent verification of project costs, the completion status of announced interventions, the actual beneficiaries of empowerment programmes and the extent to which federal funding has translated into tangible improvements.
Ultimately, the decision belongs to the electorate of Kogi West.
As the 2027 elections approach, Karimi’s supporters are making a straightforward argument: continuity could preserve legislative experience, sustain ongoing projects and strengthen the district’s position in Abuja.
Whether that argument commands another electoral mandate will depend on the judgment of voters, who must weigh the senator’s reported achievements against their expectations and the alternatives available to them.
For those who believe his record merits another term, the message is clear: continuity, consolidation and effective representation should remain central to Kogi West’s 2027 political conversation.