Residents across the seven local government areas of Kogi West Senatorial District have erupted in protest over alleged plots to overturn the victory of Senator Sunday Steve Karimi. Tensions are high as rumors circulate about a plan to replace the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary with one of the defeated aspirants.
According to sources, a forged election result, purportedly from the May 18 senatorial primary, is being circulated in Kogi State in an attempt to discredit the authentic results. Abdulganiyu Kolade, an indigene of Egbe, expressed shock at the development, stating that those manipulating the forged results are the same contenders who voluntarily withdrew from the contest in support of Senator Karimi. He said, "They are now turning around to generate fake election results and struggling to present them as authentic."
Samson Oladele, a resident of Iyara in Ijumu Local Government Area, announced plans to march to the Police Command in Lokoja to demand an investigation into the forged results. He emphasized that the protesters will not allow what he called "daylight robbery" by individuals who do not wish well for the APC and the peace of Kogi State.
The alleged plot is linked to written withdrawals of prominent aspirants, including former House of Representatives member Samuel Aro and former Senator Smart Adeyemi, ahead of the primaries. This contradicts the evidence-based primary election held on May 18, where the Returning Officer for the Kogi West APC senatorial primary declared Senator Karimi the winner with 51,665 votes, defeating four other aspirants. The official results were: Senator Sunday Karimi Steve – 51,665 votes, Samuel Aro – 620 votes, Smart Adeyemi – 571 votes, Alhaji Abubakar Zakari Ola – 414 votes, and Elizabeth Adedoyin – 18 votes.
Evangelist Ekundayo Ojo described the margin as reflecting the unequivocal will of delegates across all seven LGAs in Kogi West, and called on the APC National leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, sanction those behind the alleged plot, and affirm the certified result. He stressed that upholding the declared outcome is essential to protect the integrity of the primaries and party members' confidence.
This is not the first time residents have raised concerns over alleged attempts by forces within Kogi State to frustrate Senator Karimi's second-term bid.
