Since the passing of the political colossus, Late Prince Abubakar Audu, the Igala nation has faced its most challenging political drought. The man who was widely regarded as the architect of modern Kogi State — a governor, a strategist, and an icon — left behind not just a legacy but a vacuum. His death during the 2015 governorship election marked the moment when the Igala lost their long-standing grip on the governance of Kogi State.
For a region that once dominated the political sphere based on numerical strength, cultural cohesion, and strategic organization, losing the seat was not just a political shift — it was a historic turning point.
📌 CAN THE IGALA REGAIN THE GOVERNORSHIP?
Yes — but not without a complete restructuring of political strategy, unity, and leadership consciousness. The Igala have the numbers, the political experience, and the historical legitimacy. What is missing is internal cohesion, elite alignment, and a unified political direction.
📌 THE REALITY AFTER AUDU’S DEATH
Prince Abubakar Audu was more than a candidate — he was an institution. His political capital, grassroots machinery, and regional influence were unmatched. After his death, the Igala political bloc suffered:
Fragmentation of political elites
Multiple camps fighting for supremacy
Lack of a universally acceptable central figure
Weak negotiation power within national parties
Poor youth integration into political structures
This disunity gave room for other zones — particularly Kogi Central — to consolidate and capitalize on the Igala vacuum.
📌 WHAT MUST BE DONE FOR THE IGALA TO RETURN TO LUGARD HOUSE?
- Unify the Political Front
No ethnic group wins governorship with scattered ambitions. Igala needs a strategic consensus candidate — not ten aspirants working against each other.
- Youth Political Mobilization
The numerical strength of the Igala lies in its youths. They must move from online activism to:
Voter mobilization
Party delegates influence
Local structure involvement
Political power is taken, not gifted.
- Elite–Grassroots Alignment
The Igala political elite must reconnect with the grassroots. Elections are won in villages, wards, and polling units — not in hotel meetings.
- Coalition Across Zones
Winning requires alliances. Kogi politics is now a triangular power contest — Igala, Ebira, and Okun. Igala must build cross-zone political bridges.
- Revive the Audu Political Blueprint
Prince Abubakar Audu succeeded because he understood:
People
Power
Timing
Strategy
Reclaiming the seat will require revisiting his model of mass mobilization and regional political diplomacy.
📌 THE FUTURE: HOPE OR UNCERTAINTY?
The Igala can absolutely return to the governorship — but only if they learn from the past and reorganize for the future. The emotional nostalgia for the Audu era must be transformed into practical political engineering.
The question is not “Can Igala regain the governorship?”
The real question is:
“Are the Igala ready to unite, strategize, and fight politically like they once did?”
The future is still open.
The destiny of Kogi remains a battlefield.
And the Igala nation stands at the crossroads of political rebirth.
– Edison Atumeyi Edime
Political Activist and Youths Advocate.
Email: atumeyiedime9@gmail.com
Phone and WhatsApp: 07068760054
