* Rejects one returning officer, two results.
The Aspirant in the concluded APC kogi West Senatorial primary election, Alhaji Abubakar Zakari Ola has challenged the National leadership of the party to review the the purported results that made two aspirants emerging as winners .
He said it is only by reviewing the results that can ensure only the authentic winner is upload in the INEC portal.
This is as he berated the party for lack of internal democracy and cohesion which created gaps for the returning officer to declare two aspirants as winners of the election
In a press conference organized by
an aspirant ,Abubakar Zakari Ola on Thursday in Lokoja noted that the defining moment has arrived for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West Senatorial District to resolve the imbroglio.
Speaking for Abubakar Zakari Ola, campaign organization,Bala Maiyaki said the APC has to choose between expediency and justice, between manipulation and the sacred will of its members, saying kogi west senatorial district primary election was a referendum on fairness, inclusion and the future of the party which should not be toyed with.
He added that the election was an opportunity for party members to speak with one voice, and they did whose voices deserve to be heard, respected, and protected.
The spokesperson explained that the press conference not aimed in bitterness but in defence of democracy, speaking not against individuals but against every attempt to substitute the people’s mandate with political convenience,as injustice will become a foundation upon which future crises may be built.
He said, the delegates freely casts their votes for Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola who emerged victorious through the collective confidence and support of party members, urged the party to declare him winner .
Maiyaki noted that the victory of Honourable Zakari Ola was earned through consultation, grassroots engagement, humility, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of the APC and not bestowed by privilege but secured through the confidence of those entrusted with deciding the party’s flag bearer.
“The mandate belongs to the delegates and, ultimately, to the people—not to political influence or backroom arrangements.
“The People of Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency Spoke for Equity.
Beyond personalities, the primary election represented a powerful call for justice and fairness.
The people of Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency made a profound statement in favour of equity, inclusion, and the cherished principle of political rotation. Their decision reflected a desire to strengthen unity within Kogi West by ensuring that every constituency has a genuine sense of belonging.
Equity is not a favour; it is the foundation of enduring peace. Justice denied today becomes division tomorrow” he warned.
He decried the irony of the aftermath of the primary as two separate camps laying claim to a single ticket as Senator Sunday Steve Karimi maintains that he emerged victorious from the primary even as Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro who, did not participate in the primary election being projected in some quarters as the rightful candidate.
He added that the contradictory situation raises fundamental questions for two different individuals are simultaneously being presented as beneficiaries of the same primary smacking the integrity of the process.
He urged APC to declare clarity, not confusion as supporters deserve certainty, not contradictions.
He advised the supporters of Senator Sunday Karimi and Bamidele Aro to sheath their sword for the party , as it has the tendency to imping on the election fortunes of the party in general elections.
He appealed to all influential leaders of APC including James Faleke to rise above factional interests and stand firmly on the side of justice, due process, and the collective interest of the party
He said based on the conflicting claims and widespread controversy, immediate, transparent, and impartial review of every result, document, and process connected with the Kogi West APC Senatorial Primary should be reviewed.
According to him,truth requires no protection from scrutiny every accredited delegate’s vote should be accounted for, and every procedural step should withstand objective examination, as only a credible review can restore confidence among party members.
He wonder why a returning officer was alleged to have announced two different results for one primary election is not only confusing but also threatens public confidence in the credibility of party primaries.
“A primary election should produce only one authentic result, duly declared and documented. Where conflicting results emerged from the same exercise, suspicion, division, and avoidable litigation become inevitable. Such contradictions undermine the democratic values of transparency, fairness, and accountability that political parties are expected to uphold.
He called for truth, justice, and respect for due process urging leadership to ensure that only the authentic outcome of the primary prevails, as the credibility of the party and the confidence of its members depend on it.
He assured his supporters and stakeholders that he will pursue every lawful, constitutional, and democratic avenue available to defend what he believed to be the freely expressed mandate of the delegates.
