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The outcome of last Saturday recall process in Kogi West is indeed a litmus test ahead of 2019 elections starting with the By-Election in Lokoja/Koto federal constituency. This outcome calls for concern among All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders, knowing fully well that the vacant seat of late political icon, Rt Hon. Umar Buba Jibril of blessed memories needs to be filled by a credible, competent and people oriented candidate in the next By-Election coming up in the next few weeks from now.
The up coming by-election is an opportunity for both ruling party and opposition party to test their popularity, and I must say many politicians are eagerly waiting for this opportunity including the aggrieved members of the ruling party.
The outcome glaringly shows that all is not well with the ruling party in Kogi West and Lokoja/Koto and the state at large. Reason being that, if top ranking government officials in the likes of chief security officer of the Local Government, Secretary of the Local Government, all of which comes from the same polling unit couldn’t put their strength together to mop up to 70 signatures, not to forget that Board members, SSA and even the SUBEB chairman are from the same WARD. It shows how poorly or overrated their influence has been over the years.
If it’s true that the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) has finally settled for Barrister Shaba Ibrahim as the party flag bearer in the forthcoming Lokoja/Koto constituency by-election, then it’s a wake up call for APC that Shaba’s emergency has set a standard for who the party decide to bring out as their choice of candidate in the up coming By-Election in Lokoja/Koto federal constituency.
There is need for thorough head-head assessment of whoever the ruling party may choose to represent the party. If the party settled for a candidate that lacks the matching aptitude and wherewithal of that of Hon. Shaba, it’s going to turn out in a floppy way just like the just concluded recall.
It’s also worthy to note that many things are going to play to his advantage if truly he emerge as PDP flag bearer, most of which has just been recently observed in the recall process of Senator Dino and some which will soon be unfolding as the campaign trains moves on.
As it stand, only three candidates can beat the influence and followership Barrister Shaba command in Lokoja/Koto and its unfortunate that virtually all of them are perceived as the enemy of the current system.
Lastly, I am urging the ruling party to put her house in order or face another poor outing soon.
Lokoja/Koto politics is too delicate to be decided by a single person, there is surely need for ground shifting and realignment as the election approach.
– Abdulslimzy Mayaki
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