By Ebinum Samuel
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West has thrown its weight behind the senatorial candidacy of Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, insisting that the outcome of the party’s primary election must be respected while calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and halt what they described as attempts to overturn the democratic process.
Addressing journalists in Lokoja on Saturday under the aegis of the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum, the party elders declared that Aro remained the authentic winner of the APC senatorial primary, having emerged victorious through what they described as a transparent and duly concluded electoral process.
The leaders maintained that both the APC Primary Election Committee and the party’s Appeal Committee affirmed Aro’s victory, while reports from relevant institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), formed part of the processes that culminated in the transmission of his name to INEC.
According to them, any move to replace Aro after his nomination had been concluded would amount to a violation of both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal democratic procedures.
The forum urged President Tinubu to take decisive steps to ensure that due process prevails, including calling influential party figures, particularly the member representing Ikeja Federal constituency, James Faleke, to order in the interest of justice, party unity and the rule of law.
They argued that allowing vested interests to override the outcome of a concluded primary election would erode public confidence in the APC’s internal democracy and set a dangerous precedent for future electoral contests.
The leaders stressed that under the Electoral Act, a candidate whose name has already been forwarded to INEC can only be substituted if the candidate voluntarily withdraws by formally notifying the electoral commission in writing or in the event of death.
”Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro has neither withdrawn his candidature nor is he dead. Therefore, there is no legal basis for any substitution,” they declared.
They consequently called on INEC to reject any attempt to alter the party’s nomination outside the provisions of the law and urged the commission to remain guided by due process.
”We appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that the leadership of the APC in Kogi State and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo uphold the outcome of the primary election by allowing Aro’s nomination to stand.”
While reaffirming their loyalty to Governor Ododo and their commitment to the APC, the leaders insisted that protecting the integrity of party primaries was essential to preserving democracy and maintaining members’ confidence in the party.
They urged APC supporters across Kogi West to remain peaceful and law -abiding while pursuing justice through constitutional means.
The leaders, however, commended President Tinubu for what they described as his responsiveness to the aspirations of the people of Kogi West, particularly the approval of the rehabilitation of the Obajana–Kabba–Egbe–Omu-Aran–Ilorin Road and the Kabba–Iyara–Ifaki Road.
According to them, the road projects have renewed the confidence of the people in the Tinubu administration and would significantly boost economic activities and connectivity across the district.
They pledged the continued support of Kogi West for the re-election of President Tinubu and Governor Ododo in 2027, expressing confidence that their administrations would deepen development and strengthen democratic governance in the state.
End
