A chieftain of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State’s Omala Local Government Area has called on former Deputy Governor Edward Onoja to publicly support the party’s Kogi East senatorial candidate, Joseph Ameh Erico, accusing him of failing to mobilize support for the candidate.
Hon. Aminu Attah made the call on Tuesday, saying Onoja had remained lukewarm toward Erico’s campaign. He warned that the posture threatens party unity and the voting strength of President Bola Tinubu in the area.
Attah said the APC’s directive is for a “top-to-bottom” campaign in which no candidate is left out. He said there is no room for selective support of candidates.
“The only way we can be sure of genuine reconciliation between Edward Onoja and Yahaya Bello is for everyone to work for the party’s victory across all candidates,” Attah said, referring to Bello, the state’s former governor. “The idea that we are only working for Tinubu is unacceptable and amounts to party indiscipline.”
Attah alleged that Onoja’s backing of Tinubu exists only on paper, claiming the former deputy governor has declined to publicly endorse other APC flagbearers. Onoja has not been quoted in this report, and the allegations could not be independently verified.
“Erico’s endorsement will not in any way affect his political fortune,” Attah said. “We will not tolerate anti-party activities, especially now that the Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro Federal Constituency has finally been given the opportunity to produce a senator, a position we have long labored for.”
A former Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State governor, Attah also criticized politicians he said were running an “isolated-candidate” campaign for Tinubu. He urged them to return to the grassroots and promote the party across the board.
He dismissed rumors that Onoja is opposing Erico, who also hails from Olamaboro Local Government Area, out of concern that a senatorial victory by Erico could damage his own prospects of a federal appointment under Tinubu.
“For those who think Erico’s victory will affect their political appointments, they are getting it wrong,” Attah said. “President Tinubu will appoint individuals based on effort, commitment and competence, not where you come from.”
