The people of Kogi State, come November 1st 2023 will head to the polls to select the best man that will take over from Yahaya Bello, whose tenure will come to an end by January 27, 2004, after ruling Kogi State for 8 years.
This particular forthcoming election is going to be tougher compared to the previous ones, considering the difficult times the people of the state have faced under Yahya Bello’s regime, most especially Civil servants in the state. The state is dominated by three major tribes, namely, the Ebiras, Igala and the Okus, and it is a known fact that each tribe during election always wants their tribe to rule the state. It is definitely going to be a serious affair this time around.
A lot of key guys in the state have indicated serious interest in taking over from Yahaya Bello. They picked forms and are already preparing for the primaries from the APC and PDP who are the main contenders in the election. The contest has been thrown open and 19 strong contenders have picked forms under the APC party while 10 have equally picked forms under PDP to reclaim the state from APC.
Despite the difficult times the people of the state are facing, the APC is still a party to reckon with in the state, judging from the results of the presidential, legislative elections in the state. Many are already of the opinion that an APC candidate will definitely retain the state for the party. Here are the guys contesting under APC, though, their primaries is slated for 10th April, but before then, lets take you through the list of the contenders.
The current Deputy Governor of the State Edward David Onofi is a man of many parts. He was the Chief of Staff to Yahaya Bello during the first term. Working with his boss, Edward has his greatest strength in identifying and recruiting young people into governance, together they changed power dynamics of Kogi for good.
As the Chief of Staff, he made more enemies than friends for himself and the Governor between 2015-2019. It was revealed that many are already waiting to pay him back if given the APC ticket. His disregard for the treaditional institution is said to have angered some people, who have vowed never to forgive him.
Abdulkareem Jamiu Asuku was appointed Chief of Staff to Yahaya Bello in 2019 after serving as DG protocol during Bello’s first tenure though he had before them combined Unionnism with his academic activities to attract credibility.
He strongly believes his achievements in the current administration, especially in Bello’s second term in office, did not only make him more qualified but also serve as a testament. He has also been described as Kogi State’s best and finest Chief of Staff in history with verifiable achievements under the current administration.
Dr. Sanusi Ohaire is the son of former Senator Ohaire from Kogi Central. He is from Adari LGA, he is the director General, Rural Electrification Agency. He is a great mobiliser in Kogi Central and was once a stakeholder in APC National Youth Movement. Through his office, his community benefitted from lots of power projects. He is also in the governorship race but many see him as a young man who has little experience with administrative duties and are advising him to relax his ambition and focus on building his capacity for future purposes.
Mukadam Asiwaju Ashiru is from Yagba West LGA in Kogi State. He is presently the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning in the state. He is a very competent young man and has contributed immensely to the success of Gov. Yahaya’s administration. His supporters have been on social media rooting for him to succeed Gov. Bello and he was luckily among the 10 GYB asked to pick APC gubernatorial form.
Party Stakeholders in the state see him as an intelligent man academically but politically irrelevant. This opinion is hinged on the manner he manages the party’s internal crisis in his constituency, and he finds it difficult to deliver his polling unit during all elections.
Hon. Muritala Yakubu is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC. He is from Igalamela/Odolu LGA. He has on several occasions indicated interest in contesting for Kogi State governorship position and he eventually picked his form. This time around, his supporters mainly from the Eastern part of the state want him to succeed Yahaya in order to compensate Idal Federal Constituency and restore late Prince Abubakar Audu’s mandate in 2015.
He is a very humble man who is loved so much by his people, and his supporters are mainly members of the opposition party, PDP.
Alhaji Jibril Momoh is the current Accountant General of State. He is from Okene LGA. He is an intelligent man who has shown transparency and accountability in his duties. He is a technocrat and a childhood and bossom friend of the governor. He is a very influential member in Governor Yahaya’s New direction team and enjoys the trust and confidence of the Governor.
Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni is a formidable contender in the upcoming election. He has been a loyal member of All Progressive Congress since the time of the CPC and has served as a public servant in various capacities, including as a Permanent Secretary in the government house administration under late Gov. Prince Abubakar Audu.
His impact was felt across the country with his wealth of knowledge, dedication to serving the people and impressive track record, he is an excellent choice for the upcoming election.
Smart Adeyemi is a politician from the Okun extraction part of Kogi State, who also wants to be Governor. He was elected as a Senator for Kogi West in 2007 and re-elected twice. He is a member of the APC political party.
Hon. Senator Yakubu Oseni represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in Kogi State. He was elected in the Feb. 2019 Nigerian general elections under the banner of APC.
Senator Oseni who hails from the same senatorial district as the Governor has been a prominent figure in Kogi politics and believes that he has made valuable contributions during his time in the Senate. He is determined to continue working towards the betterment of Kogi State and its people.
Momoh Ozigi Deedat is a visionary leader who served with humility, magnanimity integrity and loyalty in the Ministry of Water Resources in the last four years. He is a good leader and a gift to Ihima people and Ebiras in general. It has been a stiff competition among the key political players in the state, others who have picked and screened under APC are the son of the late former Governor of Kogi State, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka, Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Kogi State Auditor General for local government Alhaji Yakubu Okala, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka,. Jimoh Adebanjo, Chief Friday Idachaba, Barr. Salami Momodu O., Halima I. Alfa, Alh., Yusuf Yakubu Abubakar Yahya, Achimugu, Salawudeen Abdulkudus and David A. Jimoh.
Prominent names under People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have also picked forms and have been screened under PDP. 10 key guys to be precise. They are: Senator Dino Melaye, he is a former Senator and was a member of the 8th Nigeria National Assembly representing Kogi West Senatorial district. He is from Ayetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local government area in Kogi State. He is very controversial but believes so much that he will be the best candidate that can reclaim the state back for PDP. Barrister Kabir Usman is one of the strong contenders under PDP.
Also Alhaji Abdullahi Haruna and Barrister Reuben Atabo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria but also very active in politics, had to bow to the pressure from people of the state and across the country to contest. He hails from Okpotala in Omala LGA, and has three decades of experience at the bar. with Ph.D in Law. Others are Gideon Ojata, Engineer Bolu Femi, Engineer Musa Wada, an indigene of Odu in Dekina Local Government. A fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Shipping and member of several professional bodies. He has been an Engineer all through his life.
He is said to be one of the few men who have the tenacity to always do better than their last achievement and many describe him as a man of purpose, vision, strength and character, whose goal in life is to bring liberation, respect and succour to the people.
Yomi Awoniyi, former Kogi State Deputy Governor. He served as the Director General Atiku Okowa presidential campaign in Kogi State. He gains disclosed that his desire to vie for the office is not borne out of a desire for self promotion or personal but as a result of his genuine belief that he possesses the character, capacity, competence commitment, knowledge, experience needed to solve the problems of the state. And lastly, there is Idoko Lona Idah CEO Lona group, a successful businessman and prominent son of the soil, who has contributed immensely to the socio economic development of Igala land and Kogi as a whole.
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