Barrister Julius Elukpo, PhD, has emerged winner of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) primary election held in Lokoja on Friday.
Elukpo emerged on consensus after other aspirants withdrew from the race citing the legal practitioner’s impeccable character and competence to change the narrative of the state as their reasons for backing down for his ambition.
National Chairman of the ADP, Engr. Yusuf Yabagi, described Elukpo as a man of integrity who has all it takes to drive Kogi state on path to greatness.
Yabagi, who was represented by the party’s Director of Administration, Hon. Ben Atonko, said the primaries process for the election of standard bearer followed due process of allowing every aspirant to test their popularity, however, aspirants decided to step down for a man described as an embodiment of character, capacity and uprightness.
He said, with the calibre of Barr. Julius Elukpo who has the history and challenges of Kogi state at his finger tips will make Kogi a state to be emulated across the country.
In a remark, the Kogi state chairman of the party, Hon. Ibrahim Itodo, said the party has carefully interrogated the wherewithal of all other aspirants and came to a conclusion that Barrister Julius Elukpo has the edge propel the party and her candidate to win the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial election.
He called on the stakeholders and members of the party to adopt the candidate and work hard to market his antecedents in order to defeat o candidates of other parties.
Speaking after his emergence, Barrister Elukpo commended the party for considering him worthy to fly their flag in the forthcoming Kogi state governorship election.
He disclosed that his participation in the struggle and eventual creation of Kogi state out of Kwara and Benue states was borne out of his passion to making Kogi a role model in the Nigeria federation.
He noted that his agitation for a state of her own saw, the creation of Benue state out of Kwara and plateau states in 1976, adding that giving the enormous human materials and human resources, the new state would take the country by storm.
He lamented that despite human and material resources, Kogi state kept wallowing in underdevelopment, reasons why he has to offer himself to lead the crusade for the chance of narrative of unprepared leadership.
Elukpo said his major proposition is his commitment to rule of law and order, equity and justice, saying in pursuing these causes, he has had collision part with those at the helms of the affairs.
He said his experience in private and public sectors laced with impeccable character and competence, the people of the state should bury their sentiments and vote for him for the transformation of the state.
He disclosed that the Kogi East elders had made up their minds not to vote for an amateur candidates to rule over the state again and have spoken with one voice to support who have the history of the state and there is no other person than Barrister Julius Elukpo.
He promise to focus on the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company and construction of bridges across Rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja to Shintaku and Bagana to Guto.
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Executive officers of the party and relevant security agencies monitored the exercise.
