The National Assembly screening committee has approved a number of candidates to run in the Kogi State primary on Monday, including Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the immediate former governor of Kogi State.
For the Monday primaries, 17 senatorial candidates from the state’s three senatorial districts were approved by the APC screening committee.
After Bello’s name showed up as number 13 on the list of approved candidates for the Kogi Central Senatorial District race, his eligibility—which had been the focus of rumors in recent days—was formally verified.
In the Kogi Central Senatorial District, the former governor is anticipated to compete against Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke and Momoh Yusuf Obaro for the party’s ticket.
Following a stakeholder meeting presided over by Governor Usman Ododo at the Government House in Lokoja, incumbent Senator Sunday Karimi emerged as the consensus candidate in Kogi West.
Despite the committee clearing six other candidates, including former Senator Smart Adeyemi and Aro Bamidele, political watchers think Karimi is still the front-runner after the consensus agreement.
Seven candidates were approved to run in the APC primaries for the Kogi East Senatorial District. Murtala Ajaka, Joseph Ameh, and current Senator Isah Echocho are among them.
In the meantime, through agreements reached by consensus in a number of federal seats, the Peoples Democratic Party has created its House of Representatives candidates in Kogi.
Abdulrahman Badamasuiy, a former lawmaker, was chosen by the PDP to run for the Okehi/Adavi Federal Constituency. From 2011 to 2015, Badamasuiy served as the constituency’s representative.
Lawal Idrisu for Ajaokuta Federal Constituency and Mohammed A. Etudaiye for Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituency were also chosen by consensus.
Abdulkadir Ibrahim won the ticket for the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency in Kogi West, while Femi Victor Olubiyi won the Kabba/Bunu Federal Constituency.
For the Yagba Federal Constituency, Ibigbemi Seun Samuel was re-elected without opposition.
Abubakar Yahaya won the ticket for the Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency in Kogi East, while Okolo Ikani Benjamin, a former lawmaker, won the Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency by affirmation.
Ukwenya Paul Ogwu, a former chairman of the Idah Local Government, also won the PDP nomination for the Idah Federal Constituency without facing any opposition.
Following his confirmation in Ogaminana, Badamasuiy congratulated party members for the exercise’s peaceful conduct and promised to use his legislative background to draw in development projects and give his district excellent representation.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to party members for conducting the primary in a calm manner. When I’m elected, I’ll use my extensive experience as a former congressman to draw in development ideas,” he declared.
