This political intelligence report analyzes the severe internal friction within the Kogi West All Progressives Congress (APC) concerning the controversial tenure and failed renomination attempt of Senator Sunday Karimi. The current crisis highlights a complete breakdown of democratic processes within the district’s party structure. What began as an inclusive, competitive primary ecosystem deteriorated into an arena defined by allegations of political betrayal, localized nepotism, and anti-party subversion, culminating in a deceptive federal maneuver that was ultimately exposed and reversed by the party system.
* The 2026 Primaries and Deceptive Maneuvers
The political fracture reached its peak during the 2026 Kogi West APC Senatorial primary, which initially featured a robust and well-organized field of aspirants actively engaging the electorate. The race included notable contenders such as Alhaji Bissimilai, Mrs. Doyin Ibikunle, Ustaz Zak Ola, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Omoluabi Folanmi Onirinwa, and Hon. Sam Aro. Rather than building authentic local consensus, Senator Sunday Karimi, a long-standing ally of Senator Adeyemi, reportedly utilized external Abuja backing to manipulate the process. While he attempted to use federal might to deceive the party system into handing him the ticket, this maneuver was ultimately discovered to be a complete charade, leading the party system to rightfully award the ticket to Hon. Sam Aro.
* Localized Nepotism in Yagba West
Upon originally taking office, Senator Karimi rapidly alienated local stakeholders by attempting to centralize key political appointments within his immediate micro-locality. He fiercely insisted on installing the Local Government Chairman from his own specific ward, completely disregarding the principles of political equity and zoning. Because that single ward already boasted both the sitting Senator and the Managing Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyiwa Aina, local party members revolted. Popular regional resistance ultimately overrode Karimi’s demands, forcing the selection of a Chairman from an appropriate ward in Egbe, Yagba West.
* Anti-Party Activities and Gubernatorial Subversion
The divide between the Senator and his constituency widened dramatically during the subsequent Kogi State gubernatorial election that produced Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. While Karimi superficially allowed state campaign resources to be distributed through official channels, intelligence reports revealed he was actively playing a double game. He allegedly provided substantial financial resources and indirect campaign machinery to the rival Muri/Abenemi ticket. When later confronted by the state party leadership with undeniable evidence of this subversion, Karimi reportedly confessed to the system, defending his actions as personal financial solidarity with an old ally.
* Systemic Absenteeism and Party Disconnection
Following his official reprimand for anti-party behavior, Senator Karimi completely decoupled himself from the day-to-day operations and organizational machinery of the Kogi West APC. He systematically boycotted official party functions, absented himself entirely from critical regional campaigns, and flatly refused to establish a functional senatorial campaign office in Kabba, the traditional headquarters of the district. This total physical and administrative withdrawal left local party coordinators and the grassroots electorate feeling entirely abandoned by their elected representative.
* The Kabba Day Incident and Public Backlash
The boiling point of this political alienation occurred during the high-profile Kabba Day celebrations, where Senator Karimi launched a series of verbal incitements and public attacks against the incumbent state administration. Rather than being viewed as a genuine defense of Okun interests, local intellectuals and political leaders interpreted his outbursts as a transparently selfish maneuver designed solely to shield his own vulnerability. In the aftermath, prominent stakeholders quickly distanced themselves from the Senator, prompting Karimi to launch an aggressive narrative falsely accusing his detractors of being powerless stooges to external ethnic forces.
* The Abuja Maneuver and Executive Pressure
Recognizing that his complete local isolation made winning a transparent, democratic primary election an impossibility, Senator Karimi bypassed the state structures entirely and retreated to the National Assembly leadership in Abuja. He successfully sold a strategic narrative to the Senate leadership and the Presidency, arguing that the incoming legislative session required experienced hands to guarantee political stability. Convinced by this pitch, federal authorities exerted immense pressure on the Kogi State Governor, initially forcing him to pause his organic support for his long-standing ally, Hon. Sam Aro, in order to respect “federal might.”
* The Government House Confrontation
To address this intense federal directive, the Kogi State Governor convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, which turned into a historic, unanimous indictment of the Senator. The meeting was attended by state party chiefs, local government representatives, and six paramount traditional rulers from Karimi’s home community of Egbe whom the Senator had previously taken to court. Also present in a crucial leadership capacity was His Royal Majesty, the Elegbe of Egbe, who attended strictly as the Chairman of the Yagba West Traditional Council rather than as a party to the litigation. Out of approximately sixteen high-level stakeholders who spoke, including Karimi’s own brother serving as the ALGON Chairman, not a single person spoke in the Senator’s defense.
* Exposure of the Charade and Technical Defeat
Faced with overwhelming condemnation from every sector of his constituency, Senator Karimi openly capitulated, pleading for mercy and accepting the long list of accusations leveled against him. The Elegbe of Egbe, acting in his capacity as the traditional council chairman, formally intervened to appeal for peace, asking the assembly for forgiveness on the Senator’s behalf and promising immediate behavioral reform. However, the subsequent primary process he attempted to validate through Abuja pressure was fully exposed as an undemocratic charade. Upon realizing that no real election had produced Karimi and that his Abuja-backed narrative was a deception, the party system intervened and officially designated Hon. Sam Aro as the legitimate candidate.
* Current Status, Red Flags, and the Path Forward
While Senator Karimi’s attempt to hijack the nomination through external pressure has been successfully thwarted, the structural damage and political red flags within the zone require careful management. A critical institutional grievance persists, as approximately seventeen traditional rulers within Yagba West had already signed a formal petition demanding Karimi’s removal due to his prior conduct. By overturning the deceptive Abuja charade and returning the ticket to Hon. Sam Aro, the party leadership has aligned with the authentic will of the local stakeholders, offering a vital opportunity to restore party cohesion and stabilize the APC’s prospects ahead of the general election.
Written by:
Abdullahi Sule
