In what appears to be a coordinated move, certain political actors have continued to organize endorsement meetings across Okun land, despite earlier appeals for restraint. Weeks ago, Senator Steve Karimi urged his supporters to avoid responding to provocations that could trigger disunity or public confrontations within the party. His call was widely interpreted as a commitment to preserving cohesion within the APC in Kogi State.
However, recent events indicate that some members of the party are capitalizing on that calm, to overstretch their liberty.
Over the weekend, the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Haruna, hosted a gathering described as an endorsement meeting.
The group also paid a courtesy visit to the Olujumu of Ijumu, Oba Williams Olusegun Ayeni, where they reportedly conveyed claims that a new candidate had been “anointed” for the Kogi West senatorial seat.
Sources present at the meeting noted that before the royal father could question the rationale behind such a move, the council chairman asserted that Ijumu LGA had not significantly benefitted from Senator Karimi’s occupying the Senate seat.
This claim has since generated controversy, with many observers describing it as a misrepresentation of facts.
Independent checks and community records, however, present a contrasting narrative. Available information indicates that multiple interventions have taken place across Ijumu LGA in recent years.
These include the installation of solar-powered motorised boreholes in 15 locations, the provision of transformers, and empowerment initiatives targeting women through cooperative groups.
Educational support has also featured prominently, with bursaries of ₦100,000 awarded to 150 students in 2024 (totalling ₦15 million), followed by another 200 beneficiaries in 2025 (totalling ₦20 million).
In addition, there have been notable financial contributions to community development efforts, including ₦10 million for the establishment of an Anglican nursing school, ₦10 million each at Iyara Day and Ekinrin Adde Day in 2025, and ₦10 million at the coronation of the Aiyetoro Gbede monarch.
These documented interventions in Ijumu alone, raise questions about the accuracy of claims that the Local Government has not benefitted from Karimi’s representation at the Senate.
For many observers, the issue is less about rhetoric and more about verifiable impact.
The unfolding situation underscores a deeper issue within party structures—balancing internal democracy with unity. As endorsement campaigns intensify, stakeholders within the APC in Kogi West may need to reflect on the implications of parallel political activities and their potential impact on party stability.
Ultimately, the debate may come down to a fundamental democratic question: should leadership choices be shaped by open evaluation of performance, or by pre-arranged endorsements?
For many party faithful, the answer could define the future direction of the APC in Kogi West.
– Olumide Adeniyi
For: Concerned APC Members
