Fresh political murmurs are beginning to circulate within the political space in Ajaokuta, and responsible party leaders must not treat them with indifference. Allegations have surfaced that Hon. Lawal Idrisu may be quietly negotiating with opposition elements. Sources claim that he has been seen in meetings allegedly linked to the husband of Senator Natasha, though these claims are yet to be independently confirmed. While caution must guide our conclusions, the pattern of past political behaviour surrounding Hon. Lawal makes these reports difficult to dismiss outright.
Leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels must therefore remain vigilant.
Political history offers important lessons. During the 2023 general elections, when the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, threw his weight behind another candidate, Hon. Lawal did not hesitate to abandon the APC and defect to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). This decision was taken without regard for the potential damage it could inflict on the very party that built his political career.
It is important to remember that the APC platform made Hon. Lawal who he is politically today. He won elections in 2015 and 2019 as a member of the House of Representatives under the party’s banner. In fact, it was the support and goodwill of former Governor Yahaya Bello that enabled his return ticket in 2019. Yet when the moment of political test arrived in 2023, loyalty appeared to give way to personal calculations.
The consequences of that defection were not insignificant. Even though he did not secure victory after leaving the APC, the votes he garnered were widely believed to have strengthened the opposition in the Kogi Central Senatorial race as Natasha won in his Polling Unit and ward. There were also strong indications that his political structure worked in favour of candidates of the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria) (SDP) during the gubernatorial contest.
Despite these realities, the APC, true to its spirit of unity and reconciliation, allowed him to return to the party fold. That gesture of political maturity should not, however, blind the party to the need for caution.
The APC must be careful not to empower individuals who may later become instruments of internal sabotage. Political history is filled with examples of trusted allies who later became the very forces that undermined the structures that elevated them.
There are also worrying indications that certain political actors are quietly fueling these developments. Reports suggest that an appointee who is a leader in Geregu—whose political relevance is said to be declining is encouraging Hon. Lawal to consider another political platform as a strategy to regain influence. The same leader is reportedly contemplating rejecting an offer recently extended by the administration of Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo, possibly to create room for him for anti party activities.
Similarly, another political figure from Ebiya district, whose reputation has reportedly suffered due to questionable character, is alleged to be mobilizing street thugs and encouraging Hon. Lawal to explore alternative political arrangements.
Further intelligence also mentions the involvement of a woman identified as Dangana Raliat, alongside other individuals—many of whom currently hold appointments. Their exact roles remain under investigation, and their names and others will only be publicly disclosed once credible confirmation of their activities becomes available.
It is important to stress that many of the individuals reportedly pushing this agenda were also associated with anti-party activities during the last general elections. While those actions ultimately did not stop the APC from securing victory, they nevertheless represent warning signals that must not be ignored.
At a time when the party aims to consolidate overwhelming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, strengthen the administration of Ahmed Usman Ododo, and sustain the political influence of Yahaya Bello ahead of the senate election, the APC cannot afford internal sabotage disguised as loyalty.
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State must therefore deploy the necessary mechanisms to investigate and uncover the truth behind these alleged plots. Political vigilance is not an act of hostility, it is a responsibility.
If these rumours turn out to be false, clarity will restore confidence. But if there is truth within them, early action will protect the stability of the party and the unity of its structure.
The APC must remain strong, disciplined, and alert. Political betrayal often begins with whispers before it grows into a storm.
Signed:
Abdulmalik Muhammed
For: APC Youth Forum
(Ajaokuta Chapter)
