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From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State have said Governor Usman Ododo’s second term in office is not negotiable as it is already a done deal.
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja over the weekend, a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly and the current APC leader in Lokoja Local Government Area, Rt Hon Umar Ahmed Imam, said the achievements of Ododo were enough proof that if re-elected, he would do more.
It will be recalled that some leaders from Lokoja/Koto under the aegis of the group had, two weeks ago, agitated for power shift to the Kogi West zone in 2027, which has not tasted power since the creation of the state 35 years ago.
This latest support was principally organised by political appointees of Ododo’s administration and sympathisers in Lokoja Local Government Area to counter the claims of the earlier group.
Imam, while giving the endorsement of the group, said this followed a review of deliberations at a stakeholders’ summit held at the Galaxy Event Centre in Lokoja, where participants discussed power rotation among the three senatorial districts of Kogi State.
He said the summit brought together stakeholders from Kogi Central, Kogi East and Kogi West to deliberate on power-sharing arrangements and their implications for peace, equity and harmonious coexistence in the state.
According to Imam, the general consensus at the summit was that power rotation remained a desirable arrangement for promoting fairness, justice and peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic, political and social groups in Kogi State.
He explained that participating interest groups, tribal unions, political representatives and local government areas had taken the resolutions of the summit back to their respective communities for further consideration.
However, after reviewing the summit’s resolutions, Imam said critical stakeholders in Lokoja Local Government Area had resolved to support Governor Ododo’s re-election bid.
He noted that while power rotation remained a healthy and widely accepted consensus, it should not be used to deprive the incumbent governor of his constitutional right to seek another term in office.
The former Speaker argued that political developments in Kogi State and Nigeria, particularly the constitutional provisions governing elections, should be considered in discussions about power rotation.
Imam further observed that several political officeholders, including councillors, local government chairmen, members of state and national assemblies, as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were seeking re-election for another term.
He therefore urged stakeholders to exercise caution and avoid subjecting Ododo’s anticipated return to office to what he described as an unwarranted debate.
The APC leader declared that critical stakeholders in Lokoja were extending their support, solidarity and commitment to the governor’s re-election in November 2027.
In their separate remarks, the stakeholders commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for what they described as his giant developmental projects across Kogi State.
They acknowledged the administration’s efforts towards infrastructural development and other initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people, expressing confidence in the governor’s leadership.
The stakeholders also called on all APC members across the state to unite behind Governor Ododo and support his second-term ambition ahead of the November 2027 governorship election.
They stressed the need for party unity, solidarity and collective commitment to ensure the success of the APC in future elections.
Imam maintained that the governor’s re-election would enable him to consolidate ongoing projects and sustain the development initiatives of his administration.
He appealed to the stakeholders present at the press briefing to translate their endorsement into concrete political support, stressing that the resolution should go beyond a statement on paper.
