The campaign organisation of senatorial aspirant Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola has raised alarm over an alleged plot to harass, intimidate and impersonate his supporters ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026.
In a press briefing issued on Saturday, the campaign claimed it had received credible intelligence indicating that certain political actors were planning to disrupt the exercise across voting centres in Kogi West Senatorial District.
According to the campaign organization, the alleged scheme involves the deployment of substantial financial resourcesโreportedly about โฆ30 millionโto sponsor acts aimed at creating fear, confusion and tension during the primary.
The organisation further alleged that some individuals had been recruited to impersonate supporters of the aspirant by wearing campaign materials associated with him, with the intention of causing disturbances at polling and collation centres and falsely implicating his supporters before security agencies and party officials.
The campaign, however, reiterated its commitment to peaceful and democratic participation, stressing that Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola and his supporters reject violence, intimidation and any act capable of undermining the integrity of the All Progressives Congress.
It urged its supporters across the senatorial district to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, warning against any form of provocation or unlawful gathering that could be exploited to discredit them.
The group also called on the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to intervene and ensure that the primary election is conducted in a peaceful, free and credible manner.
In addition, it appealed to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to investigate the allegations and ensure that only properly identified personnel are deployed for election duties.
The campaign expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC leadership, and the Kogi State Government for their commitment to providing a level playing field for all aspirants.
It expressed confidence that, despite the concerns raised, the will of party members would prevail through a transparent and credible primary election.S
TATE WIDE PRESS BRIEFING
RE: ALLEGED PLOT TO HARASS, INTIMIDATE AND IMPERSONATE SUPPORTERS OF ONE OF THE SENATORIAL ASPIRANTS, USTAZ ABUBAKAR ZAKARI OLA, AHEAD OF KOGI WEST APC SENATORIAL PRIMARY ON MONDAY, 18 MAY, 2026
The Campaign Organization of Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola, Senatorial Aspirant for Kogi West Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), wishes to draw the urgent attention of our supporters, party members, stakeholders, security agencies and the general public to credible intelligence information at our disposal regarding an underground plans by some individuals and certain desperate political actors to harass, intimidate and even orchestrate unlawful arrest of supporters of Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola around voting centers across Kogi West Senatorial District during the forthcoming APC primary election scheduled for Monday, 18 May, 2026.
According to the intelligence information available to us, a huge sum of money reportedly amounting to Thirty Million Naira (โฆ30,000,000:00) Only has allegedly been made available to sponsor these activities with the intention of creating fear, confusion and tension within and during the electoral processes.
We are also informed of plans by sponsored individuals to wear face caps, vests and other campaign materials associated with Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola supporters in order to cause disturbances at polling/collation centers and falsely implicate our peaceful supporters before security agencies and party officials.
We wish to state categorically clear and unequivocally that Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola and his supporters remain committed to peaceful, issue-based and democratic participation throughout the electoral process. We strongly detest and reject violence, intimidation, thuggery and any act capable of undermining the unity and integrity of our great party (APC) and the state.
In view of this recent development, we hereby call on all our supporters across Kogi West Senatorial District to remain calm, peaceful, law-abiding and vigilant at all times. Supporters should conduct themselves responsibly and avoid any form of confrontation, provocation or unlawful gathering that could be exploited by enemies of democracy.
We also respectfully call on the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, whom we recognize as a peace-loving leader and father to all, to urgently look into this disturbing information and ensure that the forthcoming exercise remains free, fair, peaceful and credible for every Aspirant.
Furthermore, we urge all security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to thoroughly investigate these allegations and ensure that only genuine and properly identified security personnel are deployed for election duties across Kogi West.
We equally appreciate and commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Kogi State Government and the leadership of the Party in Kogi State for their commitment towards ensuring a level playing ground for all aspirants participating in this democratic process.
We remain confident that the will of Party members shall prevail through peaceful, transparent and credible primary elections.
Signed:
Media Directorate,
Campaign Organization of
Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola,
APC Senate Aspirant, Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State.
16 May, 2026.
