By Muhammad Ohunene Simbiyat.
With the emergence of Flagbearers of the major political parties for the November governorship election in Kogi State, it is becoming clearer what the future holds for political parties.
It is no longer news that Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo will fly the flag of the ruling APC. A young man with vibrancy, enjoys grassroots and Youths appeal.
Yesterday the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship ticket was picked by Sen. Dino Melaye at a Governorship Primary held at the Kefas Multipurpose Hall.
All the Party Primaries by the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission would come to a close today.
From all indication, it is safe to say that the two major political parties in the State will be going to the polls without a candidate from Kogi East Senatorial District, an area that prides itself with about 52% of the State population and registered voters.
While other political parties like the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party just to mention but a few will be fielding candidates from the east, it is still safe to say the race for who win the Kogi State Governorship election is still between the APC and the PDP.
What will however determine where the pendulum will swing to at the end will be the choice of the running mate for the two major parties.
It is also important to say that in politics just like it happened at the February Presidential Election, the APC was vehement and strategic in planning, reason for the APC Muslim Muslim Ticket which political analysts are quick to say was the joker that made the Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima victory seamless.
It is now becoming obvious that what the electorate are concerned about is capacity, competence, grassroots appeal with youth inclusiveness as major political strategy.
This is the reason why it is believed that like it happened at the centre, a Muslim Muslim Ticket Can also fly in Kogi State, particularly that Kogites have never seen religion as a divide with most family having people of different faith.
For now the only way to assuage the people of Kogi East Senatorial District no doubt is to pick someone with the above qualities from Kogi East who can galvanize support and acceptability for the APC.
Thus far, some names like Dr. Usman Salisu Ogbo, Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Rabiu Alfa, the Member, representing and Member elect, Idah Federal Constituency, Hon. David Zaccharias as well as Hon. Friday Makama have resonated in public discourse as persons with the likely qualities to serve as running mate, assuage Kogi East and lead to the APC victory in the forthcoming November governorship election.
While the APC in the State may have been at the helm of affairs since 2016, it is important now not to be complacent in taking political decision, what should be paramount should be decisions that would guarantee straight victory.
A closer look amongst the mentioned persons who can fit into the permutation for APC victory easily shows that Dr. Salisu Ogbo towers amongst the preferred candidates, owing to his antecedents, capacity and youth appeal.
It is important to State that recent development has shown that the twin factors of Religion and ethnicity, driving force in politics by the outcome of the 2023 general election seem to have taken the backstage.
What the people of the State are now more concerned about findings have revealed is capacity and competence to deliver the dividends of democracy.
As such Kogi State APC should therefore not be silent about the need for consolidation on the achievements of Gov Yahaya Bello, reason why the issues of who can best deliver should be the driving force and not sentiments.
As things stands presently in Kogi State, particularly for the APC, the Muslim Muslim Ticket Can fly with assured victory for the APC.