Ahead of April 14 primary election, an advocacy group, Kogi West Women in Politics, has called on the state and national leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) to cede the governorship ticket of the party to the western senatorial district of the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja on Thursday, the convener of the group, Mrs. Titi Omotola, said a “seamless power shift to Kogi West is the right thing to do as it will avail Kogites see each other as one.”
Mrs Omotola explained that since Kogi East has occupied the position of governor for 16 years and Central would have held the same position for 8 years at the expiration of office of Governor Yahaya Bello, it is fair and natural for the position to rotate to West.
She said it is worrisome how most political parties are playing down the zoning arrangement with a sentiment of selfishness.
“Our call is premised on equity and fairness, and this is the basis of our position.
“In view of the heterogeneous nature of Kogi state, marginalization of any part of the state by others should be eschewed.
“Far from speaking from an entitlement point of view, Kogi West Women in Politics strongly believes that, to give a sense of belonging to every Kogite, Lugard House must be for every tribe and religion.
“An equitable and fair power rotation arrangement will engender peaceful coexistence among the numerous ethnic groups in the state.
“We, Kogi Women in Politics, plead with the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress to give a favourable consideration to an aspirant from Kogi West emerging as its candidate in the governorship election slated for November 2023,” she said.
The group’s coordinator for Yagba federal constituency, Hajia Kubrat Ibrahim, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the unprecedented women inclusion in governance in the state.
Hajia Ibrahim noted that Governor Bello has given women a place of pride in the state and given every one across tribes and religion a sense of belonging through equitable distribution of projects and appoitnments.
She, however, called on Governor Bello to support Kogi West to produce his successor in office by ensuring someone from the axis emerge candidate of APC.
