A dangerous political storm is quietly gathering in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi East, and many within the ruling APC appear unwilling to confront its implications openly. What began as internal maneuvering over senatorial ambitions is now evolving into a broader struggle over political control, accountability, and the future of representation in the state. At the center of this unfolding drama are Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the lingering influence of former Governor Yahaya Bello, and growing fears that political calculations are being designed not for the people, but for the protection of entrenched interests ahead of 2027.
The signs are difficult to ignore. The same political strategy reportedly attempted against Senator Sunday Karimi is now being perceived in Kogi East. Many observers believe the larger objective is not merely about party supremacy or zoning calculations, but about controlling who emerges powerful enough to question the existing political establishment. In this context, the political rise of figures like Jibrin Isah Echocho and Abubakar Ohere, popularly known as Muri, has become a source of anxiety within certain circles. For critics of the current power structure, the fear is simple: independent-minded political actors may eventually demand accountability over unresolved allegations surrounding governance, party primaries, and the management of state resources under the previous administration.
Yet the crisis goes beyond elite political rivalry. It also exposes the widening disconnect between elected representatives and the people they claim to serve. The insecurity in Omala and the humanitarian devastation in Bagana remain painful examples. Communities displaced, lives disrupted, and citizens abandoned have continued to ask difficult questions about federal representation and government intervention. Many residents increasingly feel that political leaders only remember the grassroots during elections, but disappear when governance demands visibility, accessibility, and decisive action. In a state battling insecurity and economic hardship, political titles without tangible intervention are beginning to lose their value before the people.
There is also growing frustration with the culture of political godfatherism that continues to dominate Kogi politics. The perception that major decisions are still being remotely influenced by powerful political actors undermines confidence in democratic governance. Governor Ododo now faces a defining moment. Whether fairly or unfairly, many citizens no longer see him merely as a successor carrying inherited burdens; they increasingly view him as an active participant in sustaining a political order accused of rewarding loyalty above competence and accountability. If these perceptions persist, the APC may face a serious legitimacy crisis in Kogi East ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ultimately, the political future of Kogi State may depend on whether its leaders choose reform over manipulation. The people are becoming more politically conscious, more impatient, and less willing to accept decisions imposed from above. Kogi East, in particular, appears to be approaching a breaking point where party loyalty may no longer outweigh demands for justice, inclusion, and effective representation. The old politics of control may still dominate today, but history repeatedly shows that when citizens begin to feel ignored, betrayed, and politically cornered, resistance eventually replaces silence. And in Kogi, that silence is already beginning to crack.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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