A chieftain and foundation member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West Senatorial District, Commodore Michael Folusho Daniel (Rtd.), has petitioned the APC National Chairman, urging urgent intervention over what he described as a brewing crisis following the district’s senatorial primary election held on May 18, 2026.
Cdre Daniel made the call in an open letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, dated May 28, 2026, and made available to journalists on Thursday in Lokoja.
The APC chieftain said the process, which began peacefully and transparently across the district, had degenerated into tension, division, and accusations after a conflicting result emerged days later.
He called on the party leadership to constitute an independent fact-finding committee to establish the true outcome and restore confidence in the APC.
The chieftain recalled that six or seven aspirants initially contested for the Kogi West senatorial ticket.
However, about two days before the primary, reports emerged that several aspirants, including Senator Smart Adeyemi and Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, had stepped down in support of Senator Sunday Karimi.
The development, he said, raised hopes for a rancour-free exercise.
According to Daniel, the primary in his Ward 06, Mopamuro Local Government Area, was peaceful, orderly, and dominated by a single queue in support of Senator Karimi.
He stated that similar reports came from other wards across Kogi West, with preliminary results indicating a landslide victory for Karimi.
“Shockingly, however, a few days later, an entirely different result surfaced in the media space declaring Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro as the winner of the primary election,” Daniel wrote.
He said the announcement was “unbelievable, strange, and completely inconsistent with the realities witnessed during the exercise.”
The retired naval officer warned that the controversial outcome had escalated tensions across the district, polarizing supporters and undermining reconciliation efforts that had begun after the primary.
He said many party members perceive the result as fraudulent and manipulated.
Daniel appealed to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to urgently intervene, stressing that only a credible investigation could establish the truth, preserve party unity, and prevent a deeper crisis that could weaken the APC in Kogi West ahead of future elections.
The APC stalwart insisted that Senator Sunday Karimi remains the rightful winner based on what party members witnessed on the ground.
“Your prompt intervention at this critical moment will not only preserve the integrity and credibility of the APC, but will also reassure Party faithful that justice, fairness, and transparency remain the guiding principles of our great Party,” he stated.
He added that the party members, the opposition, the electorate, and even the international community were watching, describing the moment as a test of the APC’s commitment to justice, equity, and internal democracy.
“Sir, your service record and leadership have been exemplary and inspiring. Many Nigerians believe your emergence as APC National Chairman came at a critical time for the nation.
“Your experience as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has prepared you well to manage conflicts and sustain unity in a large, diverse party like the APC. I pray God grants you continued wisdom in leading the Party,” he said.
Daniel concluded that there can be no lasting peace, unity, or progress where injustice is perceived to have been enthroned, and thanked the National Chairman for anticipated action.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) ON THE BREWING CRISIS IN KOGI WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT, KOGI STATE
28th May, 2026
The National Chairman,
All Progressives Congress (APC),
National Secretariat,
Abuja, Nigeria.
Dear Sir,
RE: THE NEED FOR URGENT INTERVENTION IN THE KOGI WEST APC SENATORIAL PRIMARY CRISIS
I write this letter with a deep sense of concern, patriotism, and responsibility as a foundation member of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and as a stakeholder from Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi State.
Permit me, sir, to first congratulate you and your entire team on the occasion of this year’s Sallah celebration. I pray that Almighty God will continue to grant you wisdom, strength, and good health as you pilot the affairs of the largest political party in Nigeria.
Sir, your trajectory in public service has been inspiring and exemplary. Your record of dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to national development remains commendable. Many Nigerians believe that your emergence as the National Chairman of our great Party was divinely orchestrated at a critical time in our national history. Your sterling leadership qualities and administrative competence have continued to strengthen confidence in the APC across the country.
Indeed, your previous experience as Minister in charge of humanitarian and disaster management matters has uniquely prepared you for the enormous responsibility of managing conflicts and preserving unity within a political institution as large and diverse as the APC. It is my sincere prayer that God will continue to endow you with the wisdom of Solomon in handling the affairs of the Party.
However, sir, I write today with a heavy heart over the disturbing developments surrounding the recent APC Senatorial Primary Election in Kogi West Senatorial District, where I proudly belong.
The events of the last few days have generated serious tension, anxiety, and division among Party members and supporters within the district. What ought to have been a peaceful and unifying democratic exercise has unfortunately degenerated into accusations, counter-accusations, bitterness, and growing hostility among stakeholders.
I was physically present and participated in the primary election conducted on the 18th of May, 2026. Prior to the exercise, there were about six or seven aspirants contesting for the APC Senatorial ticket. However, about two days before the primary, reports emerged in the media indicating that several aspirants had stepped down in support of Senator Sunday Karimi. Notable among them were Senator Smart Adeyemi and Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro.
This development was widely welcomed by Party faithful, as it created hope for a rancour-free and harmonious primary process.
On the day of the primary election in my Ward — Ward 06, Mopamuro Local Government Area — the exercise was peaceful, orderly, transparent, and devoid of violence. There was only one visible and dominant queue, which was overwhelmingly in support of Senator Sunday Karimi. Information available from across the Senatorial District indicated that the same peaceful and orderly process occurred in virtually all wards throughout Kogi West.
Expectedly, the preliminary outcome reflected a landslide victory for Senator Sunday Karimi. This came as no surprise to Party members and observers who witnessed the process.
Shockingly, however, a few days later, an entirely different result surfaced in the media space declaring Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro as the winner of the primary election. Like many others, I found the announcement unbelievable, strange, and completely inconsistent with the realities witnessed during the exercise.
Since the emergence of this controversial result, tensions have escalated dangerously across the district. Supporters on both sides are becoming increasingly polarized, and political tempers are rising daily. Sadly, the reconciliation efforts and healing processes that had already commenced after the primary have now been severely undermined by what many Party members perceive as a fraudulent and manipulated outcome.
Sir, I most respectfully appeal to you to urgently constitute an independent and credible fact-finding committee to investigate the conduct and actual outcome of the Kogi West Senatorial Primary Election. Such an intervention has become absolutely necessary in order to establish the truth, restore confidence in the Party, and prevent a deepening crisis that may ultimately weaken the APC in Kogi West.
I strongly believe that Senator Sunday Karimi remains the rightful winner of the primary election based on the realities witnessed by Party members across the district.
Your prompt intervention at this critical moment will not only preserve the integrity and credibility of the APC, but will also reassure Party faithful that justice, fairness, and transparency remain the guiding principles of our great Party.
The Party members are watching.The opposition is watching.The electorate is watching.Nigeria is watching.Indeed, the international community is watching.
This is therefore a defining moment for our Party to demonstrate unequivocally that the APC stands for justice, equity, integrity, and internal democracy.
There can never be lasting peace, unity, or progress where injustice is perceived to have been enthroned.
Thank you, sir, for your anticipated attention and fatherly intervention.
Yours faithfully,
Commodore Michael Folusho Daniel (Rtd.)Foundation Member, APCKogi West Senatorial DistrictKogi State.
