Echocho Loses Kogi East APC Ticket As Leaders Defend Process

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LAGOS – The leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi East Senatorial District have hailed the conduct of the just concluded primary election in the district.

The exercise saw the incum­bent senator representing Kogi East and Chairman, Senate Com­mittee on Customs, Jibrin Isah Echocho, losing his reelection bid, and the stakeholders after assessing the exercise, defended the outcome of the election.

They insisted that the exercise was free, fair and credible and urged aggrieved aspirants to ac­cept the outcome in the interest of party unity.

While speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, on the outcome of the election, leaders of the party in Kogi East noted that the process reflected the “true spirit of democracy,” stressing that the emergence of the winning candidate was the expression of the will of party members across the district.

The stakeholders, led by Dr. Abubakar Y. Rajab, said the primary election, conducted through direct voting, followed consultations among elders, par­ty executives, opinion leaders and stakeholders across Kogi East.

According to them, while consensus-building efforts were initially explored, “observable gaps and emerging concerns” made it necessary to adopt di­rect primaries to provide all aspirants equal opportunity to test their popularity, grassroots appeal and political acceptability among APC members.

He said, “Before the com­mencement of the primaries, extensive consultations were held among critical stakehold­ers, elders, party executives, and opinion leaders across Kogi East. Through rigorous deliberations and political engagements, con­sensus-building efforts were initially explored.

“However, certain observable gaps and emerging concerns ne­cessitated the adoption of direct primaries in place of consen­sus arrangements, in order to provide every aspirant with an unfettered opportunity to test his popularity, political acceptability, and grassroots credibility before the electorate.

“Consequently, a free, fair, transparent, and credible pri­mary election was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere devoid of intimidation, coer­cion, or manipulation. The pro­cess reflected the true spirit of democracy where the voices of party members resonated loud­er than the whispers of political convenience. Card-carrying members of the APC trooped out massively to exercise their constitutional and democratic rights by voting for candidates of their choice.

“At the end of the exercise, the outcome spoke eloquently and unequivocally. The will of the people prevailed, and the most credible, acceptable, and politically marketable candidate emerged victorious.”

The stakeholders also stated that Echocho was duly informed about the zoning arrangement of the senatorial seat to Ankpa Federal Constituency following the completion of his two-term tenure, but expressed surprise that he went ahead to buy nomi­nation forms, stressing that the arrangement aligns with the long-established political under­standing and rotational tradition within the Eastern Senatorial District aimed at promoting fairness, inclusion, balance, and mutual coexistence among the constituent federal constit­uencies.

The group commended Pres­ident Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as his commit­ment to democratic principles, internal party discipline, justice, equity and fairness within the APC.

They also praised the Nation­al Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside members of the National Work­ing Committee (NWC), for pro­viding leadership and strength­ening internal democracy within the ruling party.

The stakeholders appreciated the Kogi State APC Chairman and the party leadership for their coordination during the conduct of the primary election.

Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello was also commend­ed for his political leadership, as well as Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo for ensuring what they described as a level playing field for all aspirants during the pri­maries.