Kogi APC Governorship Primary – All Eyes On Gov. Yahaya Bello
By:Abubakar S. H
” In a meeting held recently in Abuja, Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello is expected to name his Successor, but deliberately refused to revealed the preffered candidate to succeed him”.
Few days to the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in kogi State, which is slated to hold at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja, on April 14, 2022 .
The delegates would converge to elect the ruling party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections in kogi state, it is expected that the governor would, at last, unveil the anointed successor, Bello has demonstrated that he has the ability and capacity to influence the state of affairs in the APC.
But it is certainly not beyond Bello to decide who emerges the APC flagbearer, and by extension, his likely successor.
Many of the governorship aspirants are trooping the Abuja residence of Gov. Yahaya Bello seeking for endorsement because they are aware of the importance of Bello’s endorsement.
Aspirants like, Chief Edward David Onoja, Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, Ahmed Usman Ododo, Barr. Salami Momodu O. Deedat, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, Halima l. Alfa, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Prince Shauibu Abubakar Audu, Sen. Yakubu Oseni,
Others are, Momoh Jibrin, Alh. Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Hon. Asiru Idris, Abdulkareem Asuku Jamiu, Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday, David A. Jimoh and others officially announced their intention to contest the election after visiting Gov. Bello jndividually, in the Lugard House, Lokoja.
The aspirants understand that being the Governor’s preferred candidate is, more or less, all it will take to emerge the APC candidate for the 2023 elections.
But, going by available information at the recent meeting with the aspirants at Liason office, Asokoro, Abuja, the Governor offered the same advice to all the aspirants who were at the meeting. The summary of his advice is that they should Consult widely.
Eighteen expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship election were purchased in the build-up to the APC Governorship primary election.
Seventeen of the forms were filled and submitted, signifying the intent of the concerned aspirants to participate in the primary election, but only the forms obtained on behalf of Hon. James Faleke was not submitted,even though he had earlier declined not to contest.
There were high-powered information that the current Deputy Governor of kogi state, chief Edward Onoja and former Accountant General, Alhaji Momoh Jibrin are the two likely to be favoured by the governor.
The major aspirants
Among 18 governorship aspirants comprising mostly influential deputy Governor , former Accountant General, Former Chief of staff, and serving senator, some individuals still stand out as the favourites. Top of the list are Momoh Jibrin and Elder Edward Onoja who are believed to have the strongest political structure in the state at the moment. Chief of Staff is also a major aspirant – as DG, protocol and chief of staff to the Governor for nearly eight years, any of this three major aspirants are likely to emerge as the candidate the Governor is keeping to his chest.
