By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West Senatorial District have reaffirmed their support for Senator Sunday Steve Karimi as the party’s preferred candidate for the 2027 senatorial election, dismissing calls by a group seeking his replacement as the actions of self-acclaimed leaders without the mandate to speak for the district.
The position was made known during a well-attended press conference held at Reverton Hotel, GRA, Lokoja, on Sunday, with party faithful drawn from the seven local government areas that make up Kogi West Senatorial District in attendance.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Mrs. Olamide Adesoro, Alhaji Sulaiman Babadoko and Hon. Ganiyu Sala described the recent demand by a group operating under the name Kogi West APC Leaders Forum for the emergence of Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro as the APC senatorial candidate as lacking legitimacy and not reflective of the wishes of APC members across the district.
According to them, Senator Karimi emerged through a transparent and credible APC primary election and has since justified the confidence reposed in him through effective representation, facilitation of developmental projects, empowerment programmes and appointments that have positively impacted constituents across Kogi West.
The stakeholders maintained that Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro did not participate in the APC senatorial primary that produced Senator Karimi and therefore cannot be presented as an alternative to the party’s duly nominated candidate.
They accused those championing the campaign against the senator of attempting to create unnecessary division within the APC, warning that such actions could undermine the party’s unity and electoral prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group urged party members and the general public to disregard what it described as a politically motivated campaign, insisting that the overwhelming majority of APC faithful in Kogi West remain firmly behind Senator Karimi.
They also called on the state and national leadership of the APC to ignore the position of the self-acclaimed leaders, stressing that they neither represent the collective interest of Kogi West nor possess the authority to determine the party’s candidate.
Reaffirming their commitment to the unity and progress of the APC, the stakeholders pledged their continued support for Senator Karimi, expressing confidence that the party would remain stronger and more united ahead of the 2027 elections.
The press conference was attended by party faithful, youth leaders, women representatives and other stakeholders from the seven local government areas of Kogi West, all of whom reiterated their support for Senator Sunday Steve Karimi and called on APC members to remain focused on strengthening the party rather than promoting divisions.
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