In anticipation of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) governorship primary election in
Kogi State, Nigeria, the deputy
governor, Edward Onoja, and the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Pharm.
Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku, have both decided to withdraw from the race. The
ruling APC party had scheduled its governorship primary election for Friday,
April 14, 2023. The announcement of the duo’s withdrawal came after a crucial
stakeholder meeting hosted by the state governor, Yahaya Bello, at the APC
headquarters in Lokoja, the state capital, on Thursday. During the meeting, it
was reported that Governor Bello revealed his preferred candidate, and it is
being speculated that he may have picked Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, a former
Auditor-general of the State, as his successor.
After the meeting, the deputy governor and the
governor’s Chief of Staff announced their withdrawals from the race via their
respective verified Facebook pages. Edward Onoja, who was previously thought to
be Governor Bello’s natural successor, posted a cryptic message on Facebook,
expressing gratitude for his life and divine health, and thanking his leader,
Governor Bello, and supporters for their love and prayers. Mohammed Asuku also
posted a message thanking God and Governor Bello, expressing his loyalty and
dedication to the party’s decision, and encouraging his well-wishers to work
with them for the APC’s victory in the November 11th General Election.
In a similar development, other aspirants such as Mr.
David Adebanji Jimoh, a former Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris,
Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jubril have also withdrawn from the governorship race.
The APC primary election in Kogi State is expected to be hotly contested, with
several aspirants vying for the party’s ticket to run for governorship in the
general elections.
