By joshua KOGI WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT APC 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION: SENATOR KARIMI’S COVENANT WITH DESTINY
By Musa Bakare
The emergence of Senator Sunday Stephen Karimi as the APC flag bearer for Kogi West Senatorial District, aftermath of the APC 2026 primary election is more than just another political victory. It is the renewal of a covenant, a covenant between leadership and the people, between trust and responsibility, between destiny and accountability.
Politics is more than the struggle for power; it is the examination hall of performance. Elections are not merely contests of popularity but defining moments when history pauses to ask a timeless question: Who deserves the trust of the people?
Congratulations are due, first and foremost, to Senator Sunday Stephen Karimi for again earning the confidence of his party and those of his constituents. Congratulations are equally due to the All Progressives Congress (APC), its National and state leaders and stakeholders, for conducting a process that has produced its standard bearer.
Above all, congratulations to the resilient people of Kogi West, whose democratic participation has once again strengthened the political process.
Victory in a primary election is not the destination; it is merely the opening chapter of a more demanding assignment.
History teaches a profound lesson: many leaders have survived elections but failed history because they mistook victory for validation rather than responsibility.
The Almighty grants opportunities, but He also demands stewardship.
The people have renewed their confidence in Senator Sunday Karimi ahead of the 2027 general elections. Heaven has extended another opportunity to him. History has opened another page.
What remains is how the Senator chooses to write upon it.
One undeniable truth stands in his favour.
During his first tenure, Senator Sunday Karimi distinguished himself by speaking boldly on issues affecting Kogi West. He refused the comfort of silence when many expected compromise. He defended the interests of his constituents with remarkable courage, raised critical issues of public concern, and projected the voice of Kogi West both in the National Assembly and at virtually every public forum across the district.
Representation is measured not merely by speeches but by visibility, accessibility, advocacy, and measurable development. His willingness to stand publicly for his people earned him political goodwill that has now translated into renewed confidence.
Every renewed mandate also carries a divine warning.
The greatest enemy of a successful leader is often not the opposition but complacency.
This moment calls for profound soul searching.
It demands humility before God, honesty before conscience, and openness before the people.
Every leader must periodically conduct a thorough and clinical appraisal of his stewardship.
Which promises have been fulfilled?
Which expectations remain unmet? Where has communication broken down? Which communities still feel unheard?
Who has been unintentionally left behind? Which political bridges require rebuilding?
Leadership grows stronger when it embraces constructive criticism rather than surrounding itself with endless praise.
No senator, No Governor, No President, or king becomes truly great by listening only to applause.
Applause entertains. Constructive criticism reforms.
History rewards leaders who possess the courage to correct themselves before circumstances compel correction.
As Senator Karimi prepares for another electoral contest, he must broaden his consultation beyond political allies. The elderly deserve attention. The youth deserve opportunities. Women deserve greater inclusion. Traditional rulers deserve respect. Religious leaders deserve engagement. Professionals deserve participation. The grassroots deserve constant presence.
The politics of election season must give way to the governance of continuous connection.
For the people of Kogi West, this primary election also presents important lessons.
Democracy flourishes where citizens reward performance above propaganda.
Political loyalty must never replace objective evaluation. Support must never become blind worship. Neither should criticism degenerate into destructive hostility.
The electorate must continue to demand transparency, accessibility, competence, and measurable development from every elected representative, regardless of political affiliation.
No society progresses when politicians refuse accountability.
Likewise, no society advances when citizens abandon their civic responsibility.
Democracy succeeds only when both leaders and followers honour their respective obligations.
The future of Kogi West cannot be built upon division. Politics should end where collective development begins.
After every contest comes the greater responsibility of reconciliation.
Every aspirant, stakeholder, supporter, and party faithful remains part of one political family whose ultimate objective should be the progress of Kogi West rather than the triumph of personal ambition.
The Senator himself must never forget one timeless principle: Power is borrowed. The office is temporary. Influence fades.
Performance outlives every election.
History remembers not merely those who occupied office but those who transformed lives.
As Senator Sunday Stephen Karimi marches toward the 2027 general election, he must see his 2027 election victory not as a crown but as a cross, a call to greater sacrifice, deeper service, broader consultation, firmer , and more visible delivery.
Destiny is opening another door for him and the people of Kogi West.
The people are renewing their confidence and their mandate for Karimi.
Providence is extending another opportunity.
Now comes the greater assignment: to justify that confidence through exemplary leadership, selfless service, and enduring results.
May wisdom prevail. May service triumph. May unity overcome division.
And may Kogi West continue to produce leaders whose greatest ambition is not merely to win elections but to leave behind a legacy worthy of history and acceptable before God.
Musa Asiru Bakare
Political Analyst
Lokoja, Kogi State.
June 29, 2026