By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
A former Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Dr. Tom Ohikere, has called for the 2027 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be zoned to Kogi West, arguing that equity and political balance are critical to the long-term stability of the state.
Ohikere made the call in a statement dated August 17, 2026, titled “The Kogi Question: Justice, Equity and the Case for 2027,” where he said the debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election should go beyond personalities and focus on fairness, inclusion and political balance among the three senatorial districts.
The former commissioner, who described himself as a proud son of Kogi Central, said his experience in government had taught him that a state that ignores equity cannot enjoy lasting peace.
He noted that since the return to democratic rule in 1999, Kogi East had produced governors for about 17 years, while Kogi Central would account for 12 years by 2027.
Kogi West, he pointed out, had not produced a governor in the democratic era.
Ohikere listed former governors Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada as having collectively governed Kogi East for 17 years, while former Governor Yahaya Bello and incumbent Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo account for 12 years for Kogi Central.
“For 28 years, two zones have produced governors. One zone has not,” he said, describing the situation as a record rather than an accusation.
While acknowledging the achievements of the Ododo administration, particularly in Kogi West, Ohikere said performance should not be used to suppress legitimate demands for equity.
He cited township roads in Egbe, Mopa, Ayetoro-Gbedde and Kabba, erosion control projects in Kabba, investments in Kogi State University, Kabba, remodeled primary healthcare centres, the GYB Model Science School in Okebukun, Government Day Secondary School in Takete Ide and ongoing work at the College of Education Technical, Mopa.
Ohikere said Kogi Central should be proud of the administration’s achievements in the Western Senatorial District, but added that the people of the West should also be allowed to ask when it would be their turn to lead the state.
“That question is not rebellion. It is democracy,” he stated.
He therefore proposed that the APC should zone its 2027 governorship ticket to Kogi West and allow qualified aspirants from the zone to contest a free, fair and credible primary election.
He also appealed to stakeholders to honour Governor Ododo’s service by allowing him to complete his first term and leave office with what he described as a legacy of choosing unity over tenure extension.
The former commissioner further called for the institutionalisation of power rotation among the three senatorial districts, saying a formal rotational framework would help end recurring political tensions over the governorship.
He projected that if Kogi West produces the governor in 2027, the balance by 2031 would stand at 17 years for Kogi East, 12 years for Kogi Central and four years for Kogi West.
Ohikere said such an arrangement would give the three senatorial districts a greater sense of belonging and create a foundation for political stability.
“For Kogi Central, we will be remembered as the zone that sacrificed for the unity of Kogi. That is a greater legacy than an additional four years,” he said.
He also maintained that Kogi East would remain a critical stakeholder despite having held power for the longest period, while Kogi West would finally have the opportunity to lead the state after years of waiting.
Concluding, Ohikere said the call was not an attack on Governor Ododo but an appeal for justice, inclusion and unity.
“Twenty-eight years is long enough to wait. Four years is long enough to prove capacity. 2027 is the right time to correct history,” he said.
He urged political leaders and stakeholders to choose justice and equity in 2027 in order to secure lasting peace and unity in Kogi State.
