By joshua 
Engr. Bashir Gegu Puts Party First, Backs Karimi for 2027 After 2023 Delivery in Kogi West, Sets to do Same
By Abu Micheal
In Kogi West politics, few names carry the weight of grassroots mobilization like Engr. Abubakar Bashir Gegu. Known as a political strategist, philanthropist, and Commissioner For Solid Minerals and Natural Resources. Gegu has now made a decisive move that underscores his long-held priority: party unity over personal differences.
This week, Gegu announced his support for Senator Sunday Karimi’s re-election bid, saying he has set aside a previous disagreement in line with the directive of APC leaders.
“My recent disagreement with Distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi stemmed from his disagreement with our leaders, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello and His Excellency Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo,” Gegu said. “As I have always pledged my total loyalty to our leaders, I will continue to follow their direction.”
He added that he bears no personal grudge and that the issue had been resolved by the party. “I now wholeheartedly support his re-election bid for Kogi West Senatorial District,” he stated.
Gegu’s influence in Okunland is rooted in his record. During the 2023 general elections, he was credited with strengthening APC’s footing across the five Okun-speaking local government areas. In a contest that saw PDP win Lokoja, the margins in Okunland were tight, and Gegu’s mobilization was widely cited as the factor that kept the district competitive for the APC.
“With his outstanding delivery, he separated the boys from the men,” a party insider said at the time. That track record is why his latest stance matters. Gegu said he is now committed to delivering the same results for Karimi in 2027.
Beyond his endorsement, Gegu used the opportunity to call on other stakeholders to close ranks. He commended Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro for building a political structure quickly and urged him and his supporters to rally behind Karimi.
“I urge you and your supporters to rally behind DSSK, as our party, the APC, is poised to make history in 2027 and beyond, with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the entire APC family,” he said.
The endorsement comes days after Governor Ododo and other stakeholders named Senator Karimi as the consensus candidate for Kogi West.
For Gegu, the message is simple: loyalty to the party’s direction comes first. And if history is any guide, his decision could shape the political calculations in Kogi West once again.