Fresh political tensions are emerging within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State over the 2027 senatorial ambition of Senator Sunday Karimi, with party stakeholders expressing concern over alleged moves to challenge his candidacy.
The development has reportedly generated disagreements among APC members in Kogi West, following the party’s May 18, 2026 senatorial primary, where Karimi was declared winner with 51,665 votes.
The result, announced by the returning officer, Isah Haruna, came after some of the aspirants, including Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, reportedly stepped down before voting commenced.
However, the issue resurfaced in July when Aro approached the Federal High Court in Lokoja, challenging the outcome of the primary and the submission of Karimi’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The legal challenge came despite the APC National Working Committee’s reaffirmation of Karimi as the party’s candidate after reviewing petitions arising from its primaries.
The development has also triggered debate among party members over the activities of some groups and political actors perceived to be opposed to Karimi’s return to the Senate.
A meeting described as the “Kogi West APC Leaders Forum,” which reportedly attracted several government appointees and other stakeholders, was said to have questioned the outcome of the primary.
The Kogi West Elders Assembly subsequently criticised the gathering, arguing that it did not represent the entire leadership structure of the party in the senatorial district.
The controversy has raised concerns about the unity of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as the party seeks to retain its hold on Kogi State.
Some party members have also alleged selective disciplinary measures against ward and local government officials who participate in Karimi’s constituency activities, while accusing other actors of engaging in activities perceived as contrary to the party’s position.
The allegations have not, however, been independently established.
The controversy is coming at a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s supporters in Kogi are intensifying mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with several APC leaders publicly expressing support for his re-election.
Speaking on the development, Executive Director of the Okun Renaissance Initiative, Chief Elijah Ola Olorunsuwa, urged the APC leadership in the state to prioritise reconciliation and unity ahead of the elections.
Olorunsuwa said continued internal disagreements could weaken the party’s electoral prospects if not addressed before the 2027 polls.
He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election and predicted that Karimi would return to the Senate, while cautioning that the governor and the APC leadership had reasons to be concerned about the consequences of prolonged internal divisions.
According to him, the alleged normalisation of what some party members regard as anti-party activities within the APC could eventually have political consequences for the party leadership.
He urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and other stakeholders to embrace reconciliation and ensure that party structures operate fairly and transparently.
The growing disagreement has therefore placed the Kogi APC leadership before a major political test: whether it can resolve its internal differences and present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.
With the general elections still ahead, stakeholders say there remains sufficient time for dialogue and reconciliation to prevent the dispute from becoming a major electoral liability for the ruling party.