The dispute over the Kogi West primaries has escalated after members of the APC campaign team publicly backed Ustaz Usman Abubakar as the authentic winner of the senatorial primary election in Kogi West. The group maintained that available results from the exercise reflect Abubakar’s victory, even as internal party disagreements continue over the outcome of the contest.
Members of the APC campaign structure in Kogi West insisted that Ustaz Abubakar emerged victorious in the senatorial primary election conducted to select the party’s candidate for the upcoming electoral cycle.
The group stated that their position is based on collated results from various voting centres where the exercise took place. According to them, the outcome they obtained differs from the officially declared result within party channels. The ongoing controversy surrounding the Kogi West primaries has triggered renewed debate within party ranks, with different stakeholders presenting conflicting interpretations of the election outcome.
The senatorial primary has become a source of internal tension within the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State. Party stakeholders are divided over the legitimacy of the declared winner and the process leading to the final announcement. While one group maintains that official party structures have already validated a candidate, another faction insists that Ustaz Abubakar secured the highest number of valid votes during the exercise.
The disagreement surrounding the Kogi West primaries reflects broader challenges often associated with internal party elections, particularly where multiple stakeholders claim conflicting results. Party officials are yet to issue a unified position addressing the latest claims made by the campaign team.
The APC campaign team backing Ustaz Abubakar argued that transparency in the collation process supports their position that he won the contest. They called for a review of the election process to ensure that all votes are properly accounted for.
According to the group, the figures they referenced were obtained directly from polling units and local collation centres across the senatorial district. They maintained that any result inconsistent with their records does not reflect the true outcome of the Kogi West primaries, urging party leadership to address the discrepancies.
Political observers note that disputes arising from party primaries often test internal cohesion and party discipline ahead of general elections. The current disagreement in Kogi West may require intervention from national party leadership to prevent further escalation.
Analysts say unresolved conflicts from primaries can affect campaign coordination, voter mobilisation, and overall party performance during elections. The controversy over the Kogi West primaries adds to a growing list of internal disputes across different political parties as Nigeria approaches another election cycle.
Kogi West senatorial district remains a politically competitive zone with significant influence in state and national politics. Party primaries in the district often attract strong interest due to their strategic importance.
Observers say internal disagreements such as the current one highlight the need for clearer electoral procedures and stronger conflict resolution mechanisms within party structures. The outcome of the dispute over the Kogi West primaries is expected to influence political alignments and campaign strategies ahead of the next general election.
