From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
A coalition of aspirants under the Ward A APC Aspirants Forum has rejected what it described as attempts to impose a candidate for the Lokoja I State Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the long-standing zoning arrangement in the constituency must be respected.
The forum, made up of aspirants seeking the ticket of the , warned that any move to impose a candidate would undermine democratic principles and disrupt the established rotational structure that has guided political representation in the constituency since 1999.
Members of the forum include , Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Bala, Emmanuel Egamana, Engr. Shehu Amorley, Murtala Muhammed, Comrade Ibrahim Osite Momoh, Nasir Baba Adamu, and Hajiya Fatima.
In a statement signed by Nda Aaron, who is also Special Adviser to Governor on Multimedia, the group expressed concern over what it called early moves by certain interests to endorse the incumbent lawmaker for another term, allegedly against the constituency’s established zoning formula.
According to the forum, such a move would marginalise Ward A, which it said has remained politically sidelined within the current APC leadership structure in Lokoja Local Government Area.
“There is an existing zoning tradition in Lokoja I, and it has served as a stabilising factor in ensuring fairness, equity and political inclusiveness since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999,” the statement read.
The group stated that historically, no serving member representing Lokoja I State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly has served two consecutive terms, describing the practice as a political culture that has remained intact even under successive APC administrations.
They recalled that from 2015 to 2019, Ward D produced Rt. Hon. Alfa Imam; from 2019 to 2023, Ward C produced Hon. Isa Umar; while the current lawmaker, , is from Ward B.
The aspirants argued that by this progression, fairness demands that Ward A should produce the next representative in 2027.
They said while they do not oppose anyone’s constitutional right to contest, they would strongly resist any attempt to impose a preferred candidate under the guise of consensus.
The forum called on the APC leadership in Kogi State to intervene and ensure that internal democracy, justice and the zoning tradition are upheld in Lokoja I.
“We appeal to the party hierarchy to protect the integrity of the APC by ensuring a level playing field for all aspirants,” the group stated.
