The Kogi West APC Stakeholders Forum has declared Senator Sunday Steve Karimi as the duly elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 National Assembly election.
The position of the Forum was made public during a world press conference in Lokoja on Sunday.
Addressing newsmen at the press conference, Pastor Stanley Ajileye, who spoke on behalf of the group, said Karimi’s emergence “is not merely a personal victory, but a victory for democracy, a victory for the APC, and a victory for the people of Kogi West Senatorial District.”
The Forum expressed concern over a separate press briefing by an unknown group claiming to be APC leaders in Kogi West, which alleged that Aro Samuel Bamidele won the senatorial primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
“Ordinarily, we would not dignify falsehoods with a response. But for the benefit of the public, we must state the facts,” Pastor Ajileye said.
He stated that the APC Kogi West Senatorial primary held on May 18, 2026, was conducted in a “free, fair, and credible” manner, with Senator Karimi declared winner after collation done in the presence of party officials, INEC representatives, security agencies, and the media.
The Forum alleged that “some mischievous individuals” on the Primary Election Committee submitted a different result to the APC National Collation Centre in Abuja, naming Aro Samuel Bamidele as winner.
“Upon discovering the discrepancy, Senator Karimi petitioned the APC Primary Election Appeal Committee with evidence. After a review, the party’s national leadership upheld Karimi as the authentic APC candidate for Kogi West.
“We thank the APC leadership for standing on the side of truth and protecting the mandate given to Senator Karimi by members across Kogi West,” Pastor Ajileye said
The Forum also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his commitment to internal democracy, saying his stance “reinforced confidence that the APC respects the will of the people.”
Similarly, the Forum paid glowing tribute to Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo for his reconciliation efforts ahead the APC Primary, which led to the success of Sen. Karimi.
It commended Senator Karimi for extending an olive branch to his co-aspirants, describing it as “statesmanship and a commitment to party unity.”
The group added that Karimi’s grassroots support across the 7 LGAs, built through constituency interventions, has further strengthened the APC in Kogi West.
“There is no victor and no vanquished. The true winner is the APC, and the beneficiaries are the people of Kogi West,” the Forum said, urging members to unite behind President Tinubu and Senator Karimi ahead of the 2027 elections.
