KOGI WEST 2027: THE CASE FOR EQUITY, THE CALL FOR POWER SHIFT, AND WHY POWER RETENTIONISTS MUST BE REJECTED
Convener: Dr Tom Ohikere
Coalition for Better Kogi State (CBKS) and Former Commissioner for Information Kogi State
PART ONE: THE ARTICLE – WHO IS CALLING FOR KOGI WEST?
The agitation for power rotation to Kogi West Senatorial District has become the most defining political debate in Kogi State ahead of the November 2027 governorship election. The call is simple and factual: Kogi West has never produced an elected civilian governor since Kogi State was created in 1991.
History is clear. Kogi East (Igala) has governed for about 17 years through Governors Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada. Kogi Central (Ebira) has governed for 12 years and counting through Governor Yahaya Bello (2015-2023) and incumbent Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo (2023-date). The only exception for Kogi West was the 51-day acting tenure of Rt. Hon. Clarence Olafemi. Kogi West has 0 year as elected governor.
This 17-12-0 imbalance has produced several groups now demanding power shift in 2027 in the interest of fairness, justice, peace and unity.
THE GROUPS LEADING THE CALL
1. De Group Kogi West O’Clock: Led by Hon. Shaba Ibrahim, former House of Reps member for Lokoja/Kogi. The group held a press conference at NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja in September 2026 and declared: “There is no better time than 2027 for Kogi West to produce the next executive governor.” Its slogan: “Kogi West will not wait.”
2. Okun Youth Development Association (OYDA) and Okun Development Association: The umbrella socio-cultural bodies of Okun people. OYDA held its 5th Political and Security Summit in Kabba on October 24, 2026, chaired by Dr Segun Amupitan, with President Ambassador Rotimi Akenson. The summit reaffirmed the call for Kogi West to produce governor and appealed to Hon. James Abiodun Faleke to contest.
3. Coalition for Better Kogi State (CBKS): Led by Dr Tom Ohikere. A multi-party coalition comprising members from APC, PDP, ADC, SDP, Accord, Labour, APGA and non-partisan elders from all three zones. CBKS held an extraordinary meeting in Abuja on October 26, 2026 and declared power shift to Kogi West in 2028 as an irreversible goal to be pursued through ballot box and across party lines. CBKS also linked rotation to justice, calling for independent audit of alleged unpaid percentage salaries 2016-2024 by NLC, TUC, ICAN, NBA, and independent inquiry into reported cases of missing persons.
4. Kogi Equity Alliance (KEA): Led by Hon. Adams Yusuf, KEA issued a statement October 28, 2026 welcoming CBKS communiqué.
WHAT WAS DECIDED AT THE LOKOJA SUMMIT?
The maiden Kogi State Power Rotation Summit was held September 30 to October 1, 2026 at Kay Galaxy Event Centre, Lokoja, organized by Kogi Unity Accord. The communiqué endorsed rotation in principle but majority of delegates voted that rotation should commence in 2032, not 2027, to allow Governor Ododo to complete two terms. This 2032 proposal is what the power retentionists are now hiding under.
PART TWO: QUESTION AND ANSWER –
Q1: Is it true Kogi West has never produced a governor?
Yes. 0 year elected. East 17, Central 12 by 2028. Only 51 days acting by Olafemi. That is the fact.
Q2: Who are likely candidates?
Hon. James Abiodun Faleke is most mentioned. Senator Sunday Karimi is incumbent Senator but is in court battle with Hon. Samuel Aro. Dr Ibrahim Bisimillahi from Yagba East proposed as neutral consensus by Group Eagle Watch.
Q3: Is APC united in Kogi West?
No. As at October 30, 2026, Karimi vs Aro case in Federal High Court Lokoja, ward suspensions, Audu/Faleke family vs Bello/Ododo family camps.
Q4: What is Kogi Charter of Equity proposed
A covenant modeled after Enugu, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River. Dr Ohikere proposes: West 2028-2036 (8 years), East 2036-2044, Central 2044-2052, then cycle. From 17-12-0 to 17-12-8 is not charity, it is healing.
Q5: What does CBKS mean by three wounds?
Historical exclusion of West, unpaid percentage salaries 2016-2024, and missing persons. Only a zone that has never held executive power can credibly audit salaries and give justice. He quoted Governor Ododo saying “as it is now we don’t even have civil service, it’s empty completely.”
Q6: Is rotation legally enforceable?
No. 1999 Constitution does not provide for it. It must work through party zoning and covenant, not law.
Q7: What is realistic outlook?
Moral case strong, political reality difficult. Ododo has constitutional right to second term and controls APC structure. If he runs, West cannot get APC ticket. Most likely as at Oct 2026, Ododo contests 2027. But if Faleke enters, equation changes. West agitation will be used to negotiate for Deputy, SSG, key ministries and written agreement for 2031/2032 if not 2027.
PART THREE: WHY POWER RETENTIONISTS MUST BE REJECTED –
WHO ARE THEY?
They are the people who gathered at Kay Galaxy on Sept 30-Oct 1, 2026 under fraudulent name Kogi Unity Accord. They are not Unity. They are not Accord. They are agents of serving government.
They are failed politicians who lost relevance, government appointees who cannot win their polling units, a Speaker who said those opposed to his imposed rotation law should “go to court”, and some elders in Koton-Karfe led by Senator Ado Shuaibu who told De Group to wait till 2032 when they do not speak for 11 wards of Kogi LGA.
They never fought for rotation when East did 17 years, never fought when Yahaya Bello did 8 years, but now suddenly remember constitution when Kogi West says it is our turn.
THEIR LIES EXPOSED
LIE 1: “Allow Ododo to finish second term.” When did Audu allow others? When Ibrahim Idris finished 2003-2012, did he step aside? No, he ran again and installed his in-law Wada for another 4 years. When Bello finished 2015-2019, did he step aside for West? No. Why must Kogi West be only zone asked to sacrifice?
LIE 2: “We need time for legislation.
” Enugu did not need law. Anambra did not need law. Akwa Ibom did not need law. East and Central governed for 29 years without any law. Now that West says it is our turn, they suddenly need law, need 6 years to draft law. This is fraud.
LIE 3: “We need stability. What stability? Percentage salaries 2016-2024 still unpaid. Workers died. Pensioners died. Missing persons uninvestigated. Lokoja/Kogi roads impassable. That is stability they want to retain? Retain poverty? Retain empty civil service?
WHAT RETENTION MEANS
Retention means 35 years will become 43 years. A child born in 1991 will be 43 in 2034 without ever seeing his zone produce governor.
It means political genocide. You tell 7 LGAs – Lokoja, Kogi, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West, Mopa-Muro – that they are not good enough to lead. That they are permanent deputy.
It means economic strangulation. Where are roads in Yagba? Hospitals in Koton-Karfe? Industries in Kabba? All lopsided.
CONCLUSION
Dr Tom Ohikere, an Ebira man from Okene, Kogi Central said: “As an Ebira man from Okene, I cannot defend 17-16-0. My conscience forbids it. From 17-16-0 to 17-12-8 is not charity. It is healing. It is unity. It is justice.”
Coalition for Better Kogi State says:
Kogi West will not wait. Kogi West will contest. Kogi West will organize. Kogi West will take Lugard House in 2028 through ballot box and across party lines.
Kogi West O’Clock is now. Not 2032. Now!
SIGNED:
Dr Tom Ohikere
Secretary
Coalition for Better Kogi State (CBKS)
Abuja / Lokoja
