In Kogi State, one lawmaker’s withdrawal from the 2027 assembly race has reopened conversations around political equity, representation and communal balance in Ogori-Magongo. IBRAHIM OBANSA reports
For generations, the people of the Ogori and Magongo communities in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State have sustained a delicate political understanding that promotes peace, inclusion, and mutual trust.
Though unwritten, the rotational arrangement governing the sharing of major elective positions, particularly the Local Government Chairmanship and the State House of Assembly seat, has become a stabilising force, fostering harmony and strengthening the age-old brotherhood between the two communities.
Recent political developments, however, threatened to upset that balance and reopen old divisions capable of undermining years of peaceful coexistence.
But in what many stakeholders now describe as a rare act of statesmanship, Hon. (Prince) Bode Ogunmola’s voluntary withdrawal from the race for the Ogori/Magongo State Constituency seat has become a defining moment in preserving peace and political stability.
In a letter dated 4 June 2026, addressed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogunmola formally announced his decision to step aside from the forthcoming Kogi State House of Assembly election. He explained that the move followed extensive consultations with his family and respected elders and was taken in the overall interest of the party and the constituency.
Speaking with our Correspondent, Sunday Alao from Ogori community, stressed that while political withdrawals are often associated with internal crises, pressure, or personal calculations, Ogunmola’s decision has been widely viewed as a selfless intervention aimed at preserving communal harmony.
He noted that by subordinating personal ambition to collective interest, he demonstrated a quality increasingly scarce in contemporary politics.
‘‘Beyond the immediate electoral implications, the decision has helped restore confidence in the rotational arrangement that has historically guaranteed fairness and inclusiveness between the two communities,’’ he said.
Many observers believe such local agreements remain critical in diverse societies where political representation carries deep social and cultural significance.
The development has also renewed attention on the unresolved controversies surrounding the APC primaries, particularly the delay in announcing winners in some contests.
The uncertainty created by the process fuelled anxiety and dissatisfaction among stakeholders, contributing to the crisis of confidence within the constituency.
Political analysts argue that the absence of clarity during the primaries heightened tensions, making Ogunmola’s withdrawal a timely intervention that paved the way for reconciliation among competing interests.
Across the constituency, residents have largely welcomed the development.
Speaking in Lokoja, President of the Magongo Development Association (MDA), Akpata Jordan Alaba, described Ogunmola’s withdrawal as a noble sacrifice undertaken in the interest of peace and unity.
According to him, the gesture reflects a commitment to communal harmony and should inspire both Ogori and Magongo communities to unite behind the APC ahead of the election.
He also commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for what he described as courageous and responsive leadership in facilitating the restoration of peace.
“The implication is clear,” he said. “Both communities must close ranks and work together for the success of the APC. We should forgive past grievances and return to the spirit of brotherhood that has always defined our people.”
A prominent stakeholder in Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, High Chief Meka Adesina-Soje, commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his role in resolving issues surrounding the representation of the area in the Kogi State House of Assembly.
Adesina-Soje, who is the Convener of Ododo Vanguard in Ogori-Magongo and an APC stakeholder, described the governor’s intervention as a demonstration of responsive leadership, fairness, and commitment to justice.
