Kogi East APC Justice Forum Warns Akpabio Against Meddling in Kogi Politics »

The Kogi East APC Justice Forum has warned the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, against alleged moves to interfere in the political affairs of Kogi State, particularly the politics of Kogi East Senatorial District.

The group accused the Senate President of backing subterranean efforts to impose Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho on the people of Kogi East despite what it described as his rejection during the APC senatorial primary election.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Mr. Monday Onalo on behalf of the Kogi East APC Justice Forum, the group said it was in possession of credible information indicating clandestine moves by Senator Akpabio to influence the political direction of Kogi East against the wishes of the people.

“We have it on good authority of clandestine moves by the Senate President, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio, to impose Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho on the people of Kogi East after losing the Senate primary that was peacefully conducted and declared free and fair,” the statement read.

The Forum maintained that Kogi East has a longstanding rotational arrangement which has sustained political balance, peace, and inclusion across the district over the years, warning that any attempt to undermine the arrangement could destabilize the zone.

“Kogi East has a well laid down rotational arrangement that has fostered peaceful coexistence over the decades. Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho cannot continue to betray that process. Any attempt to distort it for self-serving political ambitions will be resisted by the people,” the group added.

According to the Forum, Senator Echocho, having allegedly lost the confidence of the people, has continued to make desperate moves behind the scenes to overturn the decision reached by party members and stakeholders during the primary process.

“After losing the Kogi East Senatorial District primary election, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho has been making subterranean moves to scuttle the decision of the people. The people rejected him and that verdict must be respected.”

The group further stressed that the office of the Senate President does not confer powers to determine candidates or political outcomes in states outside his Constituency, insisting that Kogi people must be allowed to make their own choices without external interference.

“That Senator Godswill Akpabio is the Senate President does not give him the right to choose senators across the country as he is allegedly trying to do in Kogi East and Kogi West. We have no business with the politics of Akwa Ibom and we expect that nobody from Akwa Ibom should attempt to impose his own choices on the people of Kogi State.”

The Forum called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to intervene and caution the Senate President against actions capable of causing tension and confusion within the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Senate President to order so as not to throw our party into needless confusion and jeopardy. The unity and stability of the APC in Kogi State must not be sacrificed on the altar of personal political interests,” the statement added.

The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the political integrity, peace, and democratic traditions of Kogi East Senatorial District.