By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Fresh concerns have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West over an alleged plot to suspend the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, over claims of anti-party activities.
Kogi West APC stakeholders described the alleged move as politically motivated and “dead on arrival,” insisting that Senator Karimi remains one of the strongest pillars of the party in the district and the state at large.
In a statement signed by Abu-Rajaun Oyewole Idris and made available to newsmen, the stakeholders alleged that the plot surfaced shortly after Senator Karimi emerged as the APC flag bearer for the 2027 Kogi West Senatorial District election.
According to the statement, some party officials in Kogi West are allegedly being pressured to gather signatures in support of the purported suspension, in a manner similar to what was recently attempted against the Senator representing Kogi East, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho.
The stakeholders maintained that Senator Karimi’s loyalty to the APC and his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remain unquestionable, stressing that there is no basis for any allegation of anti-party activities against him.
They noted that since 1999, Senator Karimi’s representation in Kogi West has remained impactful and unequalled, with achievements and interventions spread across the senatorial district.
The statement further highlighted Senator Karimi’s role in mobilizing support for President Tinubu and the APC across Kogi State, describing his contributions to the growth of the party as significant and enduring.
According to the stakeholders, one of the Senator’s most visible interventions is in the area of education, where he currently sponsors scholarships and bursaries for about 3,000 Kogi State students studying in higher institutions across the country.
They added that the lawmaker has sustained similar educational support programmes for students from Kogi West over the past two years, alongside several constituency projects and empowerment initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of the people.
The stakeholders argued that Senator Karimi’s popularity across Kogi West remains organic because his interventions directly address the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
They warned that any attempt to suspend a Senator of his calibre could weaken the unity and cohesion of the APC in Kogi State and create avoidable distractions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and call to order those allegedly behind the planned suspension.
They insisted that Senator Karimi’s efforts in galvanizing support for the President and the APC have remained unrivaled, adding that the alleged plot is targeted at undermining a performing lawmaker whose loyalty and service to the party are beyond question.
