A political group, Kogi East APC Justice Forum, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of subterranean moves to impose Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho on the people of Kogi East despite what it described as his rejection during the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary election.
In a statement signed by Monday Onalo, the group warned Akpabio against alleged moves to interfere in the political affairs of Kogi East senatorial district.
The group said it was in possession of credible information indicating clandestine moves by Senator Akpabio to influence the political direction of Kogi East against the wishes of the people.
“We have it on good authority of clandestine moves by the Senate President, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio, to impose Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho on the people of Kogi East after losing the Senate primary that was peacefully conducted and declared free and fair.
“Kogi East has a well laid down rotational arrangement that has fostered peaceful coexistence over the decades. Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho cannot continue to betray that process. Any attempt to distort it for self-serving political ambitions will be resisted by the people,” the statement read.
The Forum maintained that Kogi East has a longstanding rotational arrangement which has sustained political balance, peace, and inclusion across the district over the years, warning that any attempt to undermine the arrangement could destabilize the zone.
According to the Forum, Senator Echocho, having allegedly lost the confidence of the people, has continued to make desperate moves behind the scenes to overturn the decision reached by party members and stakeholders during the primary process.
“After losing the Kogi East Senatorial District primary election, Senator Echocho has been making subterranean moves to scuttle the decision of the people. The people rejected him and that verdict must be respected.”
The group further stressed that the office of the Senate President doesn’t confer powers to determine candidates or political outcomes in states outside his Constituency, insisting that Kogi people must be allowed to make their own choices without external interference.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Senate President to order so as not to throw our party into needless confusion and jeopardy.
The statement added, “That Senator Godswill Akpabio is the Senate President does not give him the right to choose senators across the country as he is allegedly trying to do in Kogi East and Kogi West. We have no business with the politics of Akwa Ibom and we expect that nobody from Akwa Ibom should attempt to impose his own choices on the people of Kogi State.”
The Forum called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and caution the Senate President against actions capable of causing tension and confusion within the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Senate President to order so as not to throw our party into needless confusion and jeopardy. The unity and stability of the APC in Kogi State mustn’t be sacrificed on the altar of personal political interests,” the statement added.
The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the political integrity, peace, and democratic traditions of Kogi East Senatorial District.
