By joshua 
Kogi West APC Primary: When Politics Turns Comedy
By Comrade Samuel Adebayo.
Politics in Nigeria has often provided citizens with enough drama to rival the entertainment industry, but the ongoing controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kogi West Senatorial Primary appears to have taken political comedy to another level.
In what many observers now describe as a “theatre of absurdity,” an aspirant reportedly credited with just 414 votes across seven local government areas is demanding that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) declare him winner of the primary election.
Ordinarily, internal party contests are expected to reflect democratic principles, transparency, and respect for the wishes of delegates. Unfortunately, what is unfolding in Kogi West has once again exposed the deep contradictions and endless intrigues that have become synonymous with Nigeria’s political environment.
The statement issued by the campaign organisation of Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola paints a troubling picture of confusion, allegations, counterclaims, and desperate political calculations. While the group insists that its candidate secured the highest number of “genuine and verifiable votes,” critics are asking a simple question: how does a candidate allegedly polling only 414 votes suddenly emerge as the rightful winner of a senatorial primary covering seven local government areas?
This development has understandably triggered widespread reactions among party faithful and political observers within Kogi State and beyond. To many, the situation is gradually reducing the credibility of the APC primary process to a mere political joke.
More disturbing is the growing culture where every losing aspirant automatically claims victory while dismissing officially announced results as fake or manipulated. The dangerous implication is that democratic processes are only accepted when they favour personal ambitions.
The campaign organisation also attempted to inject sentiments of equity and zoning into the controversy by arguing that Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency has not produced a senator in two decades. While the argument for fairness may carry moral weight, democracy ultimately revolves around votes, party structures, and lawful procedures — not emotional blackmail or regional agitation.
Interestingly, the group cited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as an example of fairness for zoning its ticket to Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency. But APC and ADC are different political parties with different internal arrangements. One party’s zoning formula cannot automatically become a binding template for another.
Another troubling dimension is the attempt to drag former Governor Yahaya Bello into the dispute. The campaign organisation advised him to stay away from Kogi West politics, alleging unresolved issues in Kogi Central. Such remarks only deepen unnecessary divisions within the party at a time APC should focus on reconciliation and unity ahead of future elections.
What Nigerians are witnessing is a familiar political pattern where ambition overshadows logic and realism. Instead of accepting defeat gracefully or pursuing legitimate legal channels quietly, some politicians prefer media battles designed to attract public sympathy and pressure party leadership.
The APC leadership must therefore handle the Kogi West controversy carefully and transparently. If the party fails to provide clarity and credibility, it risks deepening internal distrust among members and damaging its public image.
Political parties are expected to serve as institutions of democratic order, not platforms for endless confusion and contradictory claims. Democracy loses its meaning when every contestant insists on victory regardless of the outcome.
Kogi West deserves mature politics, credible leadership, and issue-based engagement — not comedy skits disguised as senatorial primaries.
At a period when Nigerians are battling economic hardship, insecurity, and governance challenges, political actors should demonstrate responsibility, discipline, and respect for democratic processes.
Sadly, the Kogi West APC primary controversy has once again reminded Nigerians that in the country’s political arena, reality can sometimes become stranger — and even funnier — than fiction.
Samuel Adebayo writes from Kabba, Kogi State.