Political and socio-cultural organisation De Group has rejected a call for Kogi West Senatorial District to postpone its governorship ambition until 2031, insisting that the district should field a candidate in the next contest.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group challenged a position advanced by stakeholders from Kogi Local Government Area who urged support for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s second-term ambition.
The statement was jointly signed by Hon. Shaba Ibrahim, Alhaji Bala Haruna, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Baba, Alhaji Hamisu Nayashi and Colonel Ndamadu Mohammed (retd).
Group Disputes Stakeholders’ Mandate
De Group was responding to a press conference in Koton-Karfe led by Senator Ado Shuaibu, whose participants called on Kogi West to defer its governorship aspiration.
The organisation argued that the stakeholders did not speak for all eleven political wards of Kogi LGA and accused them of prioritising personal political interests.
It maintained that no individual or coalition could surrender the political rights of the entire senatorial district.
The disagreement adds to the wider debate over Kogi West’s governorship demand and competing political interests.
De Group Makes Case for Kogi West Candidate
The signatories said Kogi West had supported leaders from the East and Central districts for decades and deserved an opportunity to produce a governor.
They questioned why similar appeals for other districts to wait had not been made during the administrations of former governors Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada, all from Kogi East.
The group argued that earlier governors had served or sought additional terms without being asked to relinquish their ambitions in favour of another zone.
It said Kogi West would continue organising and mobilising around a candidate for Lugard House.
“Kogi West will not wait. Kogi West will contest. Kogi West will organize. Kogi West will take Lugard House in 2027,” the statement said.
Infrastructure Distribution Draws Criticism
De Group also alleged that Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency had experienced neglect under the current and previous administrations.
It cited poor roads, irregular public water supply and unfinished projects as grounds for questioning the distribution of development across the state.
Those assessments were presented as the group’s position. The statement did not provide a project-by-project breakdown or include a government response.
The administration has separately outlined interventions through Executive Council approvals covering projects, agricultural support and reforms, alongside development discussions involving Kuwait.
Support for Tinubu Remains, Group Says
Despite its disagreement over the governorship, De Group reaffirmed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration’s development agenda.
It maintained that backing the President did not alter its demand for Kogi West to pursue the governorship.
The position comes amid broader mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election and preparations involving the electorate detailed in the state-by-state voter register breakdown.
The group said it would sustain consultations and political organisation rather than accept an agreement postponing the district’s ambition.
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