By Kehinde Erin
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced that the forthcoming Local Government election will be an inclusive process, open to all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This declaration ensures that every APC member will have an equal opportunity to participate in the election, fostering a sense of unity and democracy within the party.
The Governor, delivered the declaration today during a stakeholders’ meeting convened at the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Governor Ododo announced that aspirants will undergo direct primaries, a process designed to guarantee transparent and fair nomination of the party’s candidates for the upcoming election.
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In a bid to promote gender balance, the party has decided to reserve 40% of its nomination slots for women, while men will occupy 60%. Notably, all vice chairmanship candidates will be female, ensuring women’s representation in leadership positions.
“To this end men will be given sixty percent while forty percent will be given to women for nomination as candidates of the party”, Ododo said.
Regarding further appointments to the state cabinet, the governor explained that he is postponing the announcement to allow for a meticulous vetting process. This ensures that the selected individuals represent a diverse range of backgrounds and geographical locations across the state.
In his remarks, the state party Chairman, Abdulahi Bello, praised the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello, for establishing a robust foundation that has facilitated the party’s growth and development.
During their respective remarks, spokespersons from Kogi East and Kogi West made distinct appeals. The representative of Senator Jubril Isah Echocho, stressed the need for openness and transparency in the primary election. In contrast, the Kogi West spokesperson encouraged party faithful to throw their support behind candidates with a proven track record of winning elections.
In a similar vein, the spokesperson from Kogi Central, as well as Sani Egidi, the member representing Ajakuta Federal Constituency, appealed to stakeholders to rally behind the party’s candidates, ensuring their victory in the upcoming election.
Hajia Halimat Alfa, speaking on behalf of women, encouraged them to make the most of the opportunities afforded to them and not let the party down.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Muhammad, spokesperson for the youth, assured the party of the unwavering support of young people, guaranteeing their commitment to ensuring victory at the polls.
However, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has scheduled the chairmanship and councillorship primary elections to take place on 17 and 16 of October respectively, while the election is slated for Saturday, October 19, 2024, across all 21 local government council areas of the state.
