The Kogi West and Central Coalition for Equity and Justice, a group that operates under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has picked Alhaji Suleiman Baba-Ali as the consensus candidate from the two senatorial districts ahead of the APC governorship primary election, Daily Trust on Sunday learnt last night.
The group, which was set up to counter the domination of the Kogi East Senatorial District in the state’s governorship since 1991, has been working towards the unity of the West and Central Senatorial District to realise its dream.
Speaking with our reporter last night, the Co-Chairman of the Coalition, Professor Y. O. Aliyu said the group had been involved in screening the aspirants for the governorship from the two senatorial districts, and after series of meetings with the contenders and two rigorous exercises, Alhaji Suleiman Baba-Ali proved to be a frontline contender for the governorship.
According to Professor Aliyu, “After the first screening for 16 aspirants, Suleiman Baba-Ali scored 80 points; Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo scored 70 points while Hon Clarence Olafemi came third. When we released the result, we had discussions that it was necessary to set up another committee. We did, and yet Baba-Ali scored 46 points, Olafemi 44 points and Onukaba 39 points. We decided to meet in Lokoja today to tell the people the outcome of the exercise.”
The other co-chairmen of the group included General O. Oshanupi (rtd), and Alhaji Idris Yusuf Tawari.
Professor Aliyu added that, “After meeting the people in Lokoja today, they mandated us to call other contestants to placate them. I’m a teacher. I can’t neglect the first person in an exercise. We’ll talk to the other contestants to enable them reason with the work of the committee.”
However, Hon Olafemi, a former Acting Governor and Speaker, House of Assembly of Kogi State, told our reporter that he had not stepped down for any aspirant in the 2015 Kogi State governorship election, and that he was not ready to be deputy to any candidate. He claimed he was still in the race.
