Kogi APC Primaries Under Fire as Party Members Allege Disenfranchisement Ahead of Exercise.


Tension is rising within the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress following growing complaints from party members over the conduct of the forthcoming primaries.
Several loyal APC members across different wards in the state have raised concerns over what they described as an attempt to silence the grassroots and limit participation in the delegate selection process.
According to party faithful, wards with membership strength ranging from hundreds to over one thousand people are allegedly being reduced to a few selected officials expected to determine the outcome of the primaries. There are also allegations that membership cards are being seized, while only “approved” loyalists are being allowed to participate in the process.
The development has sparked criticism among stakeholders who insist that the APC was founded on principles of internal democracy, fairness, and inclusiveness.
Party members argued that while political alignments and preferred candidates are normal in politics, any aspirant seeking legitimacy should emerge through a transparent and credible process rather than through what they described as intimidation, restriction, or imposition.
Observers within the party warned that failure to conduct free and fair primaries could damage public confidence in the APC ahead of future elections in Kogi State.
Some members also questioned what they called the growing distrust in the party structure, asking whether grassroots delegates and ward executives are no longer trusted to make independent decisions during the primaries.
“The APC projects itself as a progressive party built on democratic participation and inclusion. Kogi State should not become an exception,” one concerned party member stated.
The controversy deepened following reports that the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, had reportedly warned against the practice of forcing members to stamp their membership cards.
According to the statement circulating among party members, the APC leadership has already adopted an electronic registration system, making physical stamping of membership cards unnecessary.
Party members in areas expected to conduct direct primaries have therefore been encouraged to stand their ground and resist any attempt to disenfranchise them through unofficial procedures.
Political observers say the coming days will test the APC’s commitment to internal democracy and its ability to manage growing concerns among its grassroots supporters.
“The world is watching, party members are watching, and history is watching,” a party source said, while calling on leaders to allow every ward to “speak with its true voice.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PERMIT ME, JUST THIS ONCE, TO TALK ABOUT YAGBA POLITICS. ✍️ Temidayo John Tunde

Image
Yagba politics is a different ball game entirely. To make real impact in this zone  in this part of Kogi West  no be moi moi. It takes more than vision. It takes will. And it takes a stomach for what you’ll meet. We often say Yagba is blessed  and yes, it is. It’s a pot of wealth, wisdom, culture, and potential. But we have a few big problems: every community loves itself deeply but struggles to love the next. We’re divided not just by towns, but by ego, suspicion, and self-interest. We are brilliant, but we’ve not learned (coalition) to be one. Politics here isn’t just a game — it's a job for many. I no fit lie give you, about 70% of home-based people  those you'll refer to as the grassroots  see it as a livelihood. People with no political appointment, no office, still shining and whining. Retired men, party elders, and those whose own families may not even vote become foot soldiers and power brokers. You’ll hear things like: “Na me get Isanlu or E...
Read more

IFON AND YEYELAMO

Image
If you’re from Egbe or have roots in Yagbaland, chances are you’ve heard whispers—maybe even full-blown stories—about a mysterious spring along Patigi Road called Amo. But what if I told you that water isn't just water? That there's a spirit beneath the surface? A woman. A goddess. A legend. As the convener of Egbe Mekun Carnival, part of my mission is to document, preserve, and celebrate the unique stories and sacred traditions of our people. And trust me—IFON is one of the most intriguing. --- 💧 The Woman Who Sank Into the Ground Long ago, in the heart of our community, there lived a woman called Yeye Lamo. She was kind, peaceful, and devoted to her husband. But she had no children—and that changed everything. After waiting over 20 years for a child, her husband gave up and married another woman, who quickly bore him six children. The home once peaceful became hostile. Yeye Lamo was mocked, accused, and emotionally abandoned. One day, after a particularly cruel e...
Read more

THE MAESTRO OF THE SAVANNAH Professor Jimo Akolo, MFR (1935–2023)Three Years of Remembrance — The Brush Still Speaks

Image
Three years ago, silence visited the earthly home of a man whose life had long ceased to belong merely to himself. Yet history refused to mourn him in silence. For ordinary men pass away and memory slowly retreats. But there are rare souls whose departure enlarges their presence. Professor Jimo Bola Akolo, MFR, belonged to that sacred league of men. Today, we do not merely remember his passing. We celebrate the triumph of a life that transformed talent into legacy, culture into civilization, and creativity into immortality. Professor Jimo Akolo was not merely an artist. He was a movement clothed in humility. A silent titan who redrew the boundaries of African modernism and carried the dignity of his homeland into the galleries of the world. Long before his name echoed through prestigious art institutions and international exhibitions, he was first a son of Egbe. The earth of Yagba raised him. The spirit of Okunland shaped him. And Kogi State proudly presented him...
Read more