Politics is about unity, direction, and purpose. In the All Progressives Congress APC, our constitution is clear on this, and in every state, the Governor remains the recognized Leader of the Party. By that provision, whatever direction the Governor gives becomes the compass for the Party in that state.
In Kogi State today, that clarity is being tested. What we are seeing on the ground does not reflect the vision of the founding fathers of APC in Kogi. Instead of one voice, we are hearing several voices. Instead of one center of coordination, we are seeing parallel centers trying to pull the Party in different directions.
This is not about disagreeing on ideas. Disagreement is normal in politics. We can debate policies, we can argue about strategy and we can correct one another in good faith. That is healthy. What is not healthy and what we must reject, is insubordination dressed up as activism. It is not acceptable for a handful of stakeholders, some of them new entrants who joined us from PDP, to gather elsewhere and plot against the leadership that the Party and the people of Kogi have entrusted with the mandate.
Let us be honest with ourselves. The humility of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of our dear State, should not be mistaken for weakness. His open-door style has always been about bringing everyone along, not about surrendering the authority that the Party constitution vests in his office. When that humility is taken for granted, indiscipline grows. When indiscipline grows, lawlessness follows. And when lawlessness sets in, the opposition begins to smell blood.
We built APC in Kogi with sweat, sacrifice and sleepless nights. We did not build it so that personal interests of a few could scatter it on the eve of elections. Kogi is an APC State. We have worked hard to keep it that way and we must not allow internal confusion to hand it over to the opposition.
WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?
* First, Respect the Structure: Party stakeholders must allow the Governor to decide what goes on in the Party in the State without interference. He carries the burden of governance and the burden of Party leadership. If we truly want victory, we must rally behind that office. Council chairmen, LGA executives, elders, and youth leaders should align with the directives coming from the Government House, not from alternate meetings held outside the Party structure.
* Second, Enforce Discipline with Fairness: There can be reconciliation. There can be mediation. But there must also be consequences. When it becomes clear that people are seizing the opportunity to practice insubordination, the State Executive should act quickly to curtail excesses. A stitch in time saves nine. Let every member know that loyalty to the Party leadership is 100 percent, not 50 percent here and 50 percent somewhere else.
* Third, protect the integrity of Nominations: To the National Working Committee NWC of our great Party APC, we respectfully appeal: allow the States to handle their affairs without interference. We also urge a return to the status quo where only the State and LGA Executives choose their representatives. When “every Dick and Harry” is allowed to dictate who flies the Party flag, it weakens the structure and rewards noise over work. The people who do the work at the grassroots deserve to have a say.
* Finally, Speak to our New Members: Many who joined us from PDP and other parties needs to be mentored and not allow them to be used as tools to fight the same leadership they now belong to because we are now one family.
Election season is here. This is not the time for division. This is the time for coordination, for door-to-door work, for showing the people of Kogi that APC remains united and focused. Let us go back to the original vision of the pioneers of APC in Kogi: one Party, one Leader in the State and one direction. If we do this, Kogi will remain APC. If we don’t, we risk ruining with our hands what we built with our sweat.
May wisdom guide our stakeholders, and may the interest of Kogi people come first.
SIGNED:
CHIEF RICHARD ASAJE,
Founder/Nat’l Coordinator,
Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group
27th Aug. 2026
