Kogi Guber 2023 : Gov. Bello’s Efforts To Bring successor
- Tug Of War Between APC, ADC and PDP at General poll.
By:Abubakar S. H
The succession battle between governor Yahaya Bello and major stakeholders in kogi state has intensified as the ruling party, All Progressives Congress(APC) and the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) hold their governorship this week.
While that of the PDP will hold on April, 12, the APC has rescheduled its governorship primary for April, 14 while the ADC will conduct it own primary on 15,April.
Power brokers in the three major parties will this week produce their candidates as they battle to outwit each other in the selection of their governorship candidates.
There are speculations that the sitting governor, Bello has slated three of his men to possibly choose one for endorsement who may likely succeed him, while in others, the race is still open to all the aspirants.
The possible successor in the battle for who succeeds Governor Bello will begin to unravel this week . Excitement, intrigues, betrayal, alignment and even defection among others are some of the things we will witness.
Unlike in the past, when the race was essentially a tug of war between the two leading political parties, APC and PDP, the present contest has a new entrant, African Democratic Congress, ADC, led by the incumbent House of Representatives and Committee Chairman on Custom & Excise, Hon. Leke Abejide and strengthened by some powerful men behind the scene.
But just like in the past, the 2023 poll would be a continuation of the mud- fight between Governor Bello, Ex-Gov. Ibrahim Idris and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke , the three political giants of modern Kogi state.
Analysts believe that what is emerging as the final list for the position of the governor in the coming primaries is nothing but the godsons from all ends.
From the trenches of the APC is the deputy governor, Chief Edward David Onoja, former Accountant General of kogi state, Momoh Jibrin, Chief of staff to the Governor, Abdulkareem Jamiu Asuku and Sen. Smart Adeyemi.
The three gladiators have a rich political history under the administration of Gov. Bello.
From the PDP in the state, the list of aspirants is impressive. They include known faces like Former Deputy Governor to Ex-Gov. Wada, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, Sen. Attai Aidoko, Barr. Kebiru Usman, Alh. Abdullahi Haruna, Barr. Reuben Atabo SAN, Gideon Ojata, Engr. Musa Wada, Engr. Bolu Femi, Sen. Dino Melaye and Idoko Lona, Idah, son of a famous bussinessman in Igalaland.
From the African Democratic Congress, ADC,the member, House of Representatives who was re-elected in Feb. 18 election, Hon. Leke Abejide has picked ticket of his party contesting for governorship.
Three major factors may determine who succeeds Gov. Bello at the end of the day; namely: influence of zoning principle; Kogi east candidacy under PDP and the eventual fate of the clamour for kogi west Governorship .
There have been campaigns that there is governorship zoning arrangement in the state and that it is the turn of kogi west Senatorial District. Kogi Patriots have invested substantially in pushing this agenda including hosting campaigns. Yet, within this group also exist those who lobby that there should be continuation in the central instisting on completion of additional 8 years in office.
Though, Gov. Yahaya Bello has not spoken publicly on where he stands on the unfolding scenarios including naming his preferred aspirant.
