As political activities continue to gather momentum in Kogi Central, particularly around the Okene/Okehi/Adavi axis, one issue must remain at the center of discussions within the All Progressives Congress (APC): the danger of handing the party’s ticket to a candidate whose qualification may become a subject of legal controversy.
History has repeatedly shown that elections are no longer won only at the polls. In modern Nigerian politics, elections are increasingly decided in courtrooms. A party may celebrate victory today and wake up tomorrow to see that mandate nullified by the judiciary because due diligence was ignored during candidate selection.
This is why the APC National Working Committee (NWC) must tread carefully and avoid any decision capable of bringing embarrassment, litigation, and avoidable disgrace to the party.
There have been several political cases across Nigeria where issues surrounding certificates, qualifications, delegate processes, and compliance with the Electoral Act became major weapons used by opposition parties and aggrieved aspirants to challenge victories in court. In Kogi itself, courts have previously nullified APC congresses and entertained multiple suits surrounding candidate qualification and compliance with party procedures.
The lesson is simple: one legal loophole can destroy years of political work.
If there are unanswered questions surrounding a candidate’s academic records, results, documentation, or eligibility, the APC must not ignore such concerns simply because of temporary political convenience. The opposition is watching closely. Rival parties are waiting patiently for any opportunity to drag the APC into prolonged courtroom battles immediately after the election.
Politics is strategy, not emotions.
The danger is not just about losing a court case. The greater danger is the damage such controversies can do to the image of the APC before the people of Kogi Central. Once a candidate’s qualification becomes a public controversy, the focus of the campaign shifts from development and governance to scandal, allegations, and courtroom drama.
The APC must not walk into a trap that can be avoided from the beginning.
There are precedents in Nigerian politics where candidates faced disqualification battles over allegations relating to certificates and eligibility. There have also been situations where courts ruled that parties failed to comply with the Electoral Act in conducting congresses and primaries.
This should serve as a serious warning.
The APC remains a strong political institution with massive support in Kogi Central, but strength alone is not enough. The party must protect itself from legal vulnerabilities. The smartest political decision is to present a candidate whose records, qualifications, and eligibility are clear, verifiable, and beyond controversy.
It is better for a political party to pause and correct internal issues than to win an election today and lose everything tomorrow inside the courtroom.
No serious political party should knowingly expose itself to avoidable legal danger.
The APC National Working Committee must therefore rise above pressure, sentiments, and personal interests. The integrity of the party must come first. Every document submitted by aspirants must be carefully scrutinized. Every allegation must be properly investigated. Every legal risk must be addressed before tickets are handed out.
The people of Kogi Central deserve stability, not endless litigation.
At this critical moment, wisdom, caution, and political foresight are required. The APC must avoid any action that could hand victory to the opposition through the backdoor of the judiciary.
A stitch in time saves nine.
The party must act now, carefully and responsibly, before it becomes too late.
By APC Youth Progressive Forum, Kogi Central/Concerned Kogi Central Youths
