They are sticking with Faleke as deputy. So they need an Igala Muslim to replace Audu amongst the 28 governorship aspirants that contested in the primaries that produced Audu. Echocho was not among the aspirants. Ocholi and Faleke is not possible because it would be Christian/Christian ticket. This thing is as simple as ABC. I don't know why our people use sentiments to analyze political issues.
If you look at the results, you would notice that the Igala aspirants got low votes. For instance Yakubu Mohammed of Newswatch and Zakari Jiya got 0. I heard they they gave their votes to Audu. They told their delegates to vote for Audu so that an Igala would emerge as candidate. Ocholi on the other hand has been having problems with Auud. He refused to compromise that why he got almost 1oo votes.

He still has a case with EFCC. He has not been discharged and acquitted by any court.

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.

27 jostle for Kogi APC gov ticket, screening begins

Punch newspaper, AUGUST 9, 2015.

The All Progressives Congress will on Monday commence the screening of its Kogi State governorship aspirants.

So, far 27 aspirants have obtained the party’s expression of interest forms from the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja.

With the number of aspirants, the party had raked in N148m from the sales of the expression of interest forms, which costs N5.5m each.

The aspirants include a former Kogi State:-
1. Governor, Abubakar Audu;
2. James Ocholi (SAN),
3. Alhaji Yahaya Bello,
4. Senator Nicholas Ugbane,
5. Sani Shuaibu,
6. Suleiman Baba Ali,
7. Air Vice Marshall Saliu Atawodi,
8. Muhammad Abdullahi,
9. Senator Nuruddeen Usman,
10. Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim.
They also include the veteran journalist and one of the founding fathers of Newswatch Magazine,
11. Mr. Yakubu Mohammad,
12. Chief Clarence Olafemi,
13. Mr. Suleiman Abutu,
14. Mr. Sunday Ejibo,
15. Suleiman Ipinmisho,
16. Dr. Tim Diche.
Others are 17. Mr. Habeeb Yakeen,
18. Rotimi Obadofin,
19. Babatunde Irukera,
20. Mr. Olusola Oluwaranti,
21. Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi,
22. Aliyu Zakari,
23. Senator Alex Kadiri,
24. Alhaji Abubakar Umar,
25. Idris Kashim and Dr.
26. Sanusi Abubakar.
One of the aspirants,
27. Shuaibu, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said the Igala axis of Kogi State should not be blamed for the underdevelopment of the state.
He said it was incumbent on the citizenry of the state to vote into power persons with the exposure and competence, who could rescue the state from its pitiable state.
He said, “Kogi state is backward today not because it doesn’t have the right calibre of persons to take it out of the woods. I have heard a section of our citizenry say the problem lies with power shift; that the state is backward because my Igala people have been administering it without tangible results for all to see.
“I beg to differ on this proposition. For me, such talks is a creation of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. The PDP has a hand in the backwardness of the state because for the past 12 years, it has produced the governors that brought the state to its knees.”

That is why it would be a grave mistake for APC to give the party ticket to someone like Prince Abubakar Audu ahead of the #Kogi election. Audu is with Bukola Saraki.

Kogi Election: How The Aspirants Stand

As the kogi givernorship election draws nearer, major aspirants jostling for their party tickets have intensified their efforts ahead of the primaries.
Although the two main parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have not fixed a date for primaries, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made it clear via the time table released about two weeks ago that political parties must conduct primaries between August 25 and September 15.
This report takes a look at the governorship aspirants and their chances.

Abubakar Audu

Prince Abubakar Audu is interested in becoming the governor of the state for the third time. In 1991, Prince Audu was appointed Executive Director of FSB International Bank PLC before he was invited into politics to contest for the Governorship position in Kogi State under the ticket of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He was sworn in on 2 January 1992 as the First Executive Governor of Kogi State. It was in this capacity that he transformed the infrastructural landscape of Kogi State.
He also ruled from1999 to 20003 under the platform of the defunct ANPP.
Although Audu has been adjudged one of the best governors Kogi has produced in term of performance, most people are of the view that someone else should be given a chance.
A group, Kogi Renewal Group, has kicked against Audu’s quest to get the APC governorship ticket. The group leader, Dr Abubakar Yakubu, said the return of Audu to Lugard House is not the change the state needs.
It would be recalled that Kogi Central APC elders kicked against Audu’s governorship ambition and the elders from Audu’s zone (Kogi east), also followed suit by kicking Against Audu’s style of leadership.
The Kogi east APC elders passed a vote of no confidence on former governor of Kogi state and leader of the party, Prince Abubakar Audu for the manner he has handled the affairs of the party.
Some of the members were, Senator Alex Kadiri, Chief John S. Odawn, Ocholi James (SAN), Alhaji Abdul Kaka, and Hon. Positive Ihiabe and others.
They accused Audu of “handling the affairs of the party just like his personal estate”
“Prince Abubakar has hijacked the APC party machinery to his personal benefit” they said.
“His unilateral decisions and actions on party issues have created bad blood in the party - a situation that is threatening to tear the party apart. He was, indeed, solely responsible for the loss of 14 seats in the Kogi State House of Assembly Election of 11th April. 2015.
“Prince Abubakar removes, suspends and replaces elected party officials at his whim and caprices.
They also alleged that Audu directed a man to slap the APC Woman leader in Kogi state. They said, “Prince Abubakar Audu is very much high-handed; for instance, he at a meeting in his house, directed a man to slap the State Woman Leader of the party, Hajia Rabi Haruna (Mrs.) for no just cause.
According to the group, “The party is heading for imminent collapse if it is left to remain under the leadership of Prince Abubakar Audu”.
In conclusion they resolved “to pass a vote of no confidence on Prince Abubakar Audu. The group said, “Hence-forth, the elders of the Kogi East APC will not recognize him as the leader of the party in the state.”

Idris Wada

Although Governor Wada has not publicly declared his interest for a second term, his body language suggests that he is the candidate to beat. He emerged the PDP governorship candidate in 2011 in a rescheduled primary skewed in his favour, following the cancellation of the earlier exercise that produced Echocho as party flag bearer. Wada defeated his main rival Prince Abubakar of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Since Wada became governor he had been battling with court cases which didn’t make him settle down for the job. He has been accused by many people of weakening the PDP.
According to a member of the PDP who didn’t want his name mentioned, “Wada was clearly not prepared for the job. He got it due to his personal relationship with former Governor, Ibrahim Idris. He did nothing to appease aggrieved member of his party that is why we are in a mess today. Instead of him to step aside for a more popular person, he is still insisting on running”.
According to observers, even if Wada gets his party’s ticket, it would be an uphill task for him to win the main election because a lot of disenchanted leaders of the PDP in Kogi have dumped the party for the APC, with their teeming supporters.

Jibrin Isa (Echocho)

Alhaji Jibrin Isah is very famous in Kogi due to his philanthropic ways. Echocho as he is fondly called by his supporters is described by many people as generous to a fault.
Echocho won the PDP ticket for the 2011 election, at a primary conducted by the party in 2010. But, he was dropped in favour of the incumbent Governor Wada.
However, two weeks to the governorship election, there was a court ruling that said that the tenure of five governors including Ibrahim Idris of Kogi state would elapse in 2012 and not 2011. That ruling nullified Echocho’s candidacy. It was really an unfortunate situation for him because he had campaigned as the flag bearer of the party. When it was time for a fresh primary election, the governor, Ibrahim Idris fell out with Jibrin Isah and decided to go for Wada.
Political pundits are of the view that Echocho may still be hoping to replace Wada as the party’s governorship candidate. The Kogi chapter of the PDP is well aware of the need to substitute Wada for a sellable candidate.

Yakubu Mohammed

Veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed is a former editor of the defunct National Concord. He was co-founder of Newswatch magazine and a former Pro-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. He is of the Igala ethnic nationality, the dominant tribe in the state.
Yakubu Mohammed is who is called ‘Mr. Integrity’ by his followers for his principled way of life was a former governorship aspirant under the PDP in 2011. He was believed to be the favourite to clinch the ticket. However, due to some reasons best known to the former governor, he was dumped at the eleventh hour.
According to a reliable source, it is believed that Yakubu Mohammed was dumped because it was discovered that he is difficult to manipulate. “He is not a regular politician so he makes honest statements” the source said. Some of his followers have advised him to try to act like a politician if he wants to stand a chance. Another impediment might be the fact that unlike other aspirants, he is not financially buoyant.
Some political observers are of the view that if money is still a factor in Kogi politics, then he might not stand a chance of clinching the APC ticket.
However, his supporters argue that “Buhari was not as rich as the other aspirants yet he emerged as the Presidential flag bearer of the APC.

James Ocholi

A legal practitioner, James Ocholi (SAN) is a leading aspirant on the platform of the APC. A Lokoja-based group, the Network for Change and Good Governance, said Ocholi stands tall among other aspirants. They noted that though he is not a moneybag politician, he is credible, dependable, honest and of high integrity.
Since the merger of the main opposition parties to form the APC, the Kogi state chapter of the party has been going through leadership crisis. The leadership tussle in the party is between the former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu and James Ocholi (SAN).
Ocholi was a PDP governorship aspirant in 2011. He however dumped the party for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and became its governorship candidate. He is now a leader of the APC in the state.
Trouble started when it was alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari chose Ocholi as the leader of APC in Kogi state. The endorsement of Ocholi did not go down well with Audu, who felt that he should be the party’s number one leader in the state due to his antecedent as a former governor of the state.
Prince Audu argued that as a former governor, he should automatically be the main leader of the party in the state.
Many people have criticized both Audu and Ocholi for joining the governorship race as party leaders.

Yahaya Bello

Bello is one of the aspirants contesting for the APC ticket. He is one of the most popular aspirants in the race.
Political observers are of the opinion that Yahaya Bello stands a chance of clinching his party’s ticket because Kogi Central where he hails from is more united than ever to see that one of them becomes the next governor. Unlike Kogi east and Kogi west, the Igbiras have fielded just one aspirant.
The youths, under the aegis of Kogi APC Youths Arise Movement, are rooting for him. The group leader, Mr. Edward Onoja, said Bello stands out as the most pro-masses and youth friendly. He said: “As youths of Kogi State, we see Yahaya Bello as the carrier of our hopes and aspirations. His blueprint is pro-youths and it addresses the germane issues that concern our demographic needs.”
Aside from the support he enjoys from the youths, Bello is also believed to be extremely rich.

Among all the aspirants, Yakubu Mohammed (Newswatch) is the best. I am so happy that such a credible person has joined the race. The problem is that he is too honest to be a politician so he might not be given the ticket.

Nawao!