No fewer than 24 aspirants are warming up for the primaries in the Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC). The crowded race may unleash a post-primary crisis, unless the party conducts a free and fair shadow poll and puts in place a crisis resolution mechanism. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

No fewer than 24 chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State are warming up for the governorship primaries scheduled for Lokoja, the state capital. Party sources said more stalwarts may still join the race. The primary election holds on August 29.

The governorship poll holds on November 21. In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Idris Wada, who is seeing re-nomination, is the lone aspirant. His performance has been disputed by the APC. Although the governor has boasted that the PDP will retain power, APC chieftains believe that change is imminent in the Northcentral state.

Since 1991, Igala has always dictated the political tune. No governor has emerged from the state without the support of the acclaimed largest ethnic group. Aspirants and parties can only ignore the influence of the tribe to their peril.

Kogi has been ruled by three governors in this dispensation. In 1999, Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) was elected. He was on a familiar terrain, having been elected as governor in the Third Republic as the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC). However, in 2003, his second term ambition hit the rock.

His successor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris of the PDP, ruled for eight years. He handed over to Wada in 2011.

In the opposition party, the aspirants have obtained nomination forms. The confidence of APC chieftains is growing. According to sources, three factors are responsible. These are the power of incumbency at the centre, the strength of the Kogi chapter and the confidence in the ability of the electoral body to organise credible elections.

Top on the list of aspirants is Audu, the party leader. Opinion is divided on his ambition. A section of the party believes that he is the only chieftain who has a strong structure to win victory for the APC. But, other members are of the opinion that he should guide the process as a father figure. Many aspirants see him as a threat to their aspiration. A source said that, although they may gang up against him at the primaries, the gang-up may not be effective because he has the spread.

Audu explained to reporters that he joined the race to salvage the state. he said Kogi is sick, adding that it needs urgent medication. The former governor flaunted his experience, recalling that he left behind lasting legacies as a two-time governor. Lamenting that his legacies have been destroyed, he said his priority is the infrastructural development. But he also said that his administration will accord importance to human capital development.

The legal luminary, James Ocholi (SAN), is also a strong aspirant. He has made name in his profession. He is also widely acknowledged as a committed party leader. He is not a new comer, having joined the political family from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) days.

Also in the race is the eminent journalist, Mallam Yakubu Mohammed. Party members have described him as a man of honour and integrity. He has contested for the governorship in the PDP before defecting to the APC.

The former Speaker of House of Assembly and Acting Governor Clarence Olafemi is also in the race. He is a defector to the progressive bloc from the PDP. He is very popular.

Other aspirants include Yahaya Bello, the first aspirant to obtain form, Senator Nicholas Yahaya, Sani Halilu Shuaibu, Suleman Baba Ali, Air Vice Marshall Saliu Atawodi, Muhammad Abdullahi, Senator Nuruddeen Abatemi-Usman, and the only woman-contender, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim.

Other are Suleman Abutu, Sunday Ejibo, Lanre Ipinmisho, Dr. Tim Nda Diche, seasoned banker Habeeb Abdullahi Yakeen, Rotimi Obadofin and Babatunde Irukera, Olusola Oluworanti, Adinoyi Onukaba, Aliyu Zakari, a pharmacist, Senator Alex Kadiri, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Umar, Hussaini Idris Kashim and Dr. Sanusi Abubakar.

As they stormed the party office to collect the forms, amid pomp, some of the aspirants explained their motivation and programmes.

Ocholi said he entered the race to offer qualitative leadership. “Kogi deserves a better leadership, which I am ready to offer. I have the capacity to steer the affairs of the state towards the path of development”, he added.

Habeeb lamented the slow pace of development in Kogi, saying that it is sad. Noting that the situation is redeemable, he promised to use its potentials to develop the state and move it forward.

Habeeb decried the high rate of unemployment, armed robbery and kidnapping in the state, which he attributed to bad leadership. He assured that the APC will halt the trend, if people vote for power shift in November.

Human rights activist Obadofin promised to bring government closer to the people. He identified poverty and hunger as the problems facing the masses, assuring that their abolition will top his agenda. Obadofin said any governor who fails to address these issues is not serious.

Diche advised the people to vote out the PDP, saying that its hold on Kogi has been disastrous. He described the PDP government as a non-performing government, challenging the party to list its achievements. he said 24 years after the creation of the state, it has nothing to offer.

Ipinmisho lamented the corruption in governance, saying that it is counter-productive. He promised to enthrone a transparent government that will better the lot of the people. Noting that Kogi is being run as the black sheep of the nation, he said the mess should not be allowed to continue.

Shu’aibu promised to multiply the dividends of democracy. His blueprint encompasses social security, human development, job creation, and agricultural development.

Bello promised to revive the ailing sectors and restore the glory of the state. He promised to work with the Federal Government to tap the mineral resources of the state. “Kogi State is the solid minerals capital of Nigeria. The most strategic minerals are buried in the bowels of our dear state. But, the lackluster successive administrations have been blind to these jewels of nature around us.

“of the 34 most important minerals in Nigeria, 29 are in Kogi State. We have a master plan to partner with the Federal Government and ensure that these blessings no longer lie fallow in our land while our people go hungry and unemployed,” Bello stressed.

Hmm.. this one they are rushing in for that position while others are tending in their resignation letters, hope they know what's in there for them, LOOTING IMPOSSIBLE.
Again they should leave the lives of innocent citizens out of their political desperation.
Good luck to them.

..

chocolateme:
.

My 4G means nuthing abi

Well,
There are contenders and There are pretenders!

kamair237:
My 4G means nuthing abi

its too early to quote me and besides, what is the problem?modify your topic to make sense and FP before someone else comes with a better caption.

25 greedy men justle for Kogi governorship election


Oya
Op edit it

Anything but Idris Wada is welcomed

.

We don't want Audu Abubakar to rule Kogi again. He is a tyrant and a criminal. If APC fields him as Kogi governorship candidate, we will vote for PDP despite the fact that Wada performed poorly. Audu as candidate would affect the credibility of APC and President Buhari.