By joshua 
Bashiru Gegu: The APC Foot Soldier Driving Kogi’s Mining Revolution, 2027 Grassroots Push
By Our Reporter
In the crowded square outside the Kogi State Government House on Saturday, the chant was unmistakable: “Kogi is APC, APC is Kogi.” Leading the chorus was a man who has become one of the party’s most visible mobilizers in the state: Engr. Bashiru Gegu, Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources.
For Gegu, the solidarity walk organized by Dr. Muyiwa Aina was more than a political rally. It was a statement of intent ahead of 2027, and a showcase of how the APC is leveraging both governance and grassroots energy to consolidate its dominance in North Central Nigeria.
A chemical engineer by training, Gegu entered public service with a reputation for technical rigor. Since his appointment as Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, he has worked to reposition Kogi’s mining sector from a dormant asset to a revenue engine. Under his watch, the state secured 30 mineral titles and deployed heavy-duty mining equipment, moves he says have placed Kogi “on the map of Nigeria’s solid minerals drive.”
But Gegu’s role has extended beyond policy. He has emerged as a key political operative for the APC, coordinating youth and stakeholder engagement across Kogi West and beyond. His public appearances often blend technical updates on mining with political messaging around President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“Kogi is APC, APC is Kogi,” he told hundreds of party faithful, youth groups, and women mobilizers who marched through Lokoja chanting solidarity songs. “We are comfortable of an overwhelming APC victory for President Tinubu in 2027.”
Gegu attributes the party’s hold on Kogi to groundwork laid by former Governor Yahaya Bello and consolidated by Governor Ododo. He argues that Ododo’s first tenure in office has muted opposition voices through visible delivery in security, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
“While it is normal for opposition to be part of politics, unfortunately in Kogi the good works of Gov. Ododo have silenced the voice of the opposition,” he said.
The commissioner also defended Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting that despite national challenges, the president’s infrastructure drive and policy direction were “doing us proud.” For Gegu, the link between federal policy and state delivery is central to the APC’s 2027 strategy.
Party leaders at the Lokoja walk described the event as part of a sustained campaign to keep the APC structure active and counter opposition narratives early. Gegu’s message was clear: mobilization must reach every ward and polling unit.
“We will not relent on spreading the gospel of Tinubu and Ododo. The work has started, and the results are clear for everyone to see,” he said.
Gegu has increasingly positioned himself as a bridge between government policy and grassroots mobilization. His advocacy for providing mobility and remuneration for youth leaders, his frequent stakeholder meetings, and his role in organizing political events suggest a deliberate effort to build a durable political base.
What distinguishes Gegu in Kogi’s political landscape is the combination of technocratic credentials and political visibility. While many commissioners remain confined to their ministries, Gegu operates at the intersection of governance and party politics.
His loyalty to the APC has never been in question. Colleagues describe him as a “relentless foot soldier” who sees party building and public service as inseparable.
“Kogi has always been the heartbeat of APC in North Central Nigeria,” a party chieftain said at the event. “With the unity we are seeing now, and with people like Gegu on the ground, the state will deliver again.”
As 2027 approaches, Gegu’s dual role as a commissioner delivering on mining reforms and a mobilizer driving the APC message makes him one of the figures to watch in Kogi politics. For now, his focus remains on translating government achievements into political capital—and ensuring that in Kogi, the APC message travels from the streets of Lokoja to the remotest polling unit.