Nigeria’s democracy cannot continue to celebrate political loyalty while ignoring the grievances of communities that believe their contributions have yielded insufficient recognition. The Igala nation, particularly Kogi East, deserves an honest conversation about representation, political inclusion and its place in the national power structure. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress must confront an uncomfortable question: what does political loyalty mean when a community repeatedly struggles to translate its electoral contributions into meaningful political influence?
The historical record offers reasons for this concern. In November 2015, Prince Abubakar Audu died while the Kogi State governorship election remained inconclusive. Rather than another Igala candidate succeeding him on the APC ticket, the party nominated Yahaya Bello, who subsequently became governor. The development marked a defining political transition for Kogi East and raised enduring questions about succession, political strategy and the region’s influence within the party. The Supreme Court subsequently addressed the legal disputes surrounding that election in Faleke v. INEC.
Barely four months later, another tragedy struck. Dr James Enojo Ocholi, then Minister of State for Labour and Employment, died in a fatal road accident on March 6, 2016, alongside his wife and son. His death created another vacancy in the Federal Executive Council. Contemporary reports documented calls for the appointment of another qualified Kogi indigene to replace him. Yet the wider question of sustained regional representation remained unresolved. Two prominent Igala political figures had died within months, leaving significant political and institutional questions in their wake.
These events invite a difficult examination of how political succession operates in Nigeria. When influential political figures die, political institutions must continue functioning. However, continuity should not become an excuse to disregard the interests of the constituencies from which those leaders emerged. No constitutional provision guarantees that a deceased officeholder must be replaced by someone of the same ethnicity. Nevertheless, equitable representation, political consultation and fairness remain legitimate considerations in a diverse federation.
The comparison with Lagos State also deserves attention. Lagos has developed a highly organised political succession culture, with influential party structures, established networks and visible conversations about future leadership. The emergence of possible successors is often discussed long before elections arrive. Kogi East, by contrast, frequently appears caught between competing ambitions, fragmented alliances and uncertain political calculations. The lesson is not that Lagos possesses an exclusive entitlement to political power, but that organisation and strategic continuity matter. Political influence is rarely surrendered by those who understand how to preserve it.
Yet the Igala question must be examined honestly. It would be inaccurate to claim that the Tinubu administration has completely excluded Igala representation. Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, was appointed Minister of Steel Development in August 2023. His appointment is significant, but one ministerial position should not end the conversation about broader representation, strategic appointments, federal projects and the development priorities of Kogi East. Recognition must be assessed by its substance, not merely its symbolism.
There is also a question the APC must answer. Igala communities have participated in party mobilisation, political campaigns and electoral activities. Their members have invested time, resources and political capital in advancing the party. Why, then, does a persistent sense of exclusion remain among sections of the region? Is the problem inadequate political organisation within Kogi East, weak negotiation among its leaders, or an imbalance in how political opportunities are distributed? These possibilities deserve examination. The ongoing allegations that the Igala nation is deliberately being weakened because of its growing political influence must also be investigated rather than accepted without evidence.
President Tinubu has an opportunity to address these concerns through deliberate consultation, inclusive federal appointments, equitable infrastructure investment and stronger engagement with Kogi East’s traditional institutions and political stakeholders. The region needs more than ceremonial visits and familiar political assurances. It needs measurable commitments to federal roads, agricultural development, industrial investment, security, education and employment. Ajaokuta’s industrial future, for example, should not remain a recurring political promise while the surrounding communities continue to wait for the economic opportunities such an investment could generate.
The Igala nation is not asking Nigeria to abandon merit, constitutional principles or national balance. It is asking that its political contributions, historical experiences and development needs receive serious consideration. Tinubu’s administration should understand that loyalty cannot be sustained indefinitely through political rhetoric. A federation becomes stronger when its constituent communities believe they have a meaningful stake in its institutions. The APC must also look beyond electoral arithmetic and recognise that political inclusion is an investment in national cohesion. The question is not whether the Igala nation deserves exclusive political privilege; it is whether it deserves fair treatment within the Nigerian federation. Political loyalty should never become a permanent tax paid by a community in exchange for diminishing relevance.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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