By Our Reporter, Lokoja
The De-Group Kogi West O’Clock has alleged that its supporters were harassed and their banners destroyed during a recent power-shift summit in Kogi State.
The allegation was made on Wednesday during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Lokoja.
The group is campaigning for the rotation of the Kogi State governorship to Kogi West Senatorial District in 2027.
Its spokesperson, Barrister Shaba Ibrahim, said the group attended the summit after receiving an invitation from the organisers and expected the meeting to provide an opportunity for peaceful dialogue on political power rotation.
He alleged that the events at the venue fell short of that expectation.
“We were invited to the summit which was supposed to advocate peace, but some of our delegates were intimidated. Our supporters were harassed and our banners were destroyed.”
Ibrahim said the group’s demand for power rotation predated the current political administration, noting that the issue had featured in discussions under successive governments.
He also acknowledged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s constitutional right to seek a second term, but said the governor’s re-election ambition could coexist with continued advocacy for power rotation.
“The Governor has a constitutional right to a second term, but that cannot stop our agitation.”
Alhaji Sulaiman Baba, who represented the Dankwo Development Forum, also alleged that banners belonging to power-rotation supporters were destroyed by persons he described as thugs.
Baba said his forum submitted seven recommendations to the summit, including a proposal for power rotation to begin with Kogi West in 2027.
Retired Colonel Kabir Ndamadu Mohammed, another participant, described what he said occurred at the summit as “a show of shame” and vowed that advocates of power rotation would remain resolute.
The allegations made at the press conference could not independently be verified from the information available for this report.
The development comes amid heightened political discussion over Kogi’s 2027 governorship succession.
Other stakeholder groups have also made competing proposals concerning power rotation and future political arrangements in the state.
Those in attendance at the press conference included former NNPCL Director Alhaji Bala Haruna, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Baba, Alhaji Hamisu Nayashi and retired Colonel Ndamadu Mohammed.
One thought on “Kogi 2027: Group Alleges Harassment, Destruction of Banners at Power-Shift Summit”