A quiet but consequential political realignment appears to be unfolding in Kogi State, where politicians once identified as key allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election are allegedly resurfacing as preferred figures within the power architecture of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
What initially appeared to be isolated political appointments and endorsements is now generating intense scrutiny across Kogi East and Kogi West, especially as preparations for the 2027 electoral cycle quietly begin.
At the center of the unfolding intrigue are Samuel Bamidele Aro and Joseph Erico—political actors widely believed to have played frontline roles in Atiku’s 2023 presidential mobilization in the state. Their sudden political resurgence within structures closely associated with former governor Yahaya Bello has triggered questions about hidden alliances, strategic infiltration, and possible long-term calculations ahead of 2027.
Political observers in Lokoja, Anyigba, and Kabba say the development is difficult to ignore.
For many within the APC, the matter is particularly sensitive because Kogi politics during the 2023 general election was already shrouded in suspicion and conspiracy theories. Although the APC officially delivered the state to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the presidential election, persistent allegations circulated in political circles that elements within the Kogi power establishment were not fully committed to Tinubu’s candidacy.
Those suspicions were fueled by the political disappointment that followed Yahaya Bello’s failed presidential ambition after he lost the APC ticket to Tinubu. Bello had vigorously pursued the APC presidential nomination and built a nationwide political structure around his aspiration before the party eventually settled for Tinubu. Tinubu eventually lost the votes to Atiku in Bello’s Kogi Central senatorial district.
Since then, whispers of “dual loyalty” have remained a recurring undercurrent in Kogi political discourse.
Now, the re-emergence of politicians associated with Atiku’s 2023 network is reviving old questions.
In Kogi West, Samuel Bamidele Aro is increasingly being mentioned in strategic APC conversations, with the likelihood of taking the senatorial ticket from Sen. Sunday Karimi. In Kogi East, Joseph Erico’s growing acceptance within influential blocs linked to the former governor has equally raised eyebrows among party loyalists who insist the APC should prioritize long-standing Tinubu loyalists rather than politicians perceived to have once worked against the party’s presidential interest.
An even more glaring concern is the emergence of Mr. Victor Onwuchola and Ogembe—both of whom flew the PDP flag in the 2023 elections and openly canvassed support for Atiku Abubakar against the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—now being allegedly favored ahead of long-standing, loyal APC members in the Idah and Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituencies, respectively.
Political observers are increasingly questioning the rationale behind what appears to be the surrendering of APC structures and platforms to individuals who stood firmly with the opposition only a short while ago. This development has fueled speculations and renewed allegations of an underlying political understanding between the Bello/Ododo political camp and remnants of Atiku’s 2023 political machinery.
The development has created a quiet ideological tension within the ruling party.
Some party insiders argue that politics is ultimately about interests, survival, and coalition building, insisting that Bello may simply be consolidating influence across tendencies in order to maintain relevance in the state’s evolving power equation.
Others, however, see a more calculated agenda.
According to several APC stakeholders who spoke anonymously, the concern is not merely about the rehabilitation of former Atiku loyalists, but about what such rehabilitation could mean for the future control of Kogi politics.
“People are asking whether this is coincidence or strategic positioning,” one senior APC member in Lokoja said. “You cannot ignore the fact that these individuals were identified with Atiku’s structure in 2023 and are now being projected within APC power circles.”
That perception has deepened speculation that certain forces may already be laying the groundwork for a broader political understanding ahead of 2027.
The suspicions are amplified by the fact that Kogi remains one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states in the North Central, with its complex ethnic balancing and historical role as a battleground between major political blocs.
Analysts say whoever controls the APC structure in Kogi heading into 2027 could significantly influence not only senatorial contests but also presidential voting behavior.
For critics of the emerging trend, the question is straightforward: why are politicians associated with Atiku’s presidential machinery becoming increasingly comfortable within a structure supposedly built around Tinubu’s dominance?
Supporters of Bello, however, dismiss such arguments as paranoia.
They insist the former governor remains loyal to the APC and to President Tinubu, pointing to the party’s continued dominance in the state, including the emergence of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo after the 2023 governorship election.
Yet the political optics remain difficult to ignore.
Within the APC rank and file, there is growing unease that ideological lines are becoming blurred and that political convenience may be overtaking party fidelity. For many loyalists, the fear is that Kogi could become a staging ground for subterranean alliances that may only become visible when the 2027 presidential contest fully crystallizes.
Whether the return of Bamidele Aro and Joseph Erico represents mere political reconciliation, tactical coalition building, or an early sign of deeper realignments tied to Atiku’s future ambitions remains unclear.
But one reality is becoming increasingly evident in Kogi politics: yesterday’s opponents are rapidly becoming today’s preferred insiders.
Get breaking news and latest updates directly on WhatsApp
