By joshua 
Election Primaries in Kogi: The Trigger APC Must Not Pull
Pastor Stanley Ajileye
I am new in All Progressive Congress, APC. All the same, I am now a card carrying member of the party, who should have a say in the affair of our great party.
The ongoing debate within the APC at the national level over whether state governors should control party primaries in their respective states is both timely and necessary.
While there is merit in granting governors a degree of influence, given their strategic position in party leadership, such authority must not be abused or stretched into the imposition of so called “consensus candidates” against the will of the people.
In Kogi State, particularly in Kogi West, any attempt to substitute genuine democratic primaries with predetermined outcomes will be strongly resisted.
Party unity cannot be built on exclusion, nor can loyalty be demanded where fairness is denied.
Recent political history offers clear lessons.
In 2012, the people of Ijumu demonstrated the power of popular will. Hon. Yori Afolabi, despite being denied the PDP ticket in favor of his brother, Hon. Osawu, refused to step down. Contesting under a minority party, he rode on the support of the people and won. That election was a clear message, the electorate will always assert itself when unjustly ignored.
A similar pattern played out in 2023. Hon. Salman Idris, after being denied the PDP ticket, moved to the ADC. What followed was a wave of sympathy and cross party support that propelled him to victory. The aftermath weakened the PDP significantly, with many members defecting to the ADC and APC.
Again, the lesson was unmistakable, internal injustice breeds external defeat.
The APC must tread carefully in Kogi West. Any deliberate move to deny Senator Karimi a fair contest could trigger unintended consequences.
In today’s fluid political environment, multiple parties would be willing to offer him a platform, possibly even as a consensus candidate. Should that happen, the outcome may not favor the APC.
More importantly, the people of Kogi West have shown a growing determination to shape their political destiny. They are increasingly unwilling to accept decisions imposed from above. If pushed, they may align with any platform that reflects their aspirations.
There is also a broader risk. Internal discontent within the APC could spiral into a situation where the party becomes divided against itself, APC against APC. Such a fracture could have ripple effects, even impacting support for the President in future elections.
If consensus must be considered at all, it should logically favour the incumbent. Otherwise, the most credible path remains open, transparent, and competitive primaries.
That is the only way to preserve party integrity, maintain grassroots trust, and secure electoral victory.
The APC stands at a critical juncture in Kogi State. The choices made now will either strengthen the party’s democratic credentials or undermine its future.
A word, as they say, is enough for the wise.