Loyalists of Senator representing the Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have described the All Progressives Congress (APC) conduct and outcome of its House of Representatives and Senate primaries in Kogi State, as a huge embarrassment.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the Media Adviser to Senator Natasha, Samuel Idoko, while speaking with journalists in Abuja, asserted that the election exercise was rancorous and poorly managed.
Idoko stressed that the crisis that followed the primaries had exposed the ruling party as disorganised and unprepared to continue leading the state.
He said, “The irregularities witnessed during the APC primaries, from the House of Representatives elections down to the Senate primaries, are a huge embarrassment to a party that claims to be the ruling party. What Nigerians and Kogites have seen is confusion, manipulation, and lack of internal democracy.”
Idoko also described the APC screening committee’s decision to clear former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to contest for the Senate as shocking and disappointing, citing pending corruption cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He stated, “The most shocking aspect is the clearance granted to former Governor Yahaya Bello, who is currently facing serious corruption cases with the EFCC, to contest for Senate. It is a major dent on the integrity of the APC and clearly shows that the party does not care about accountability.”
Idoko, who is also contesting for a seat in the Kogi State House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said growing dissatisfaction within the APC had improved his party’s chances in the state.
He noted that the PDP was gaining grassroots support in Kogi East and Kogi Central and was ready to contest for key seats from the Senate to the State House of Assembly.
He added, “All these developments are advantages for the PDP. The people are tired, and they are ready for change. PDP is strongly positioned to win elections across Kogi East and Kogi Central, from the Senate down to the State House of Assembly seats.”
Idoko urged party supporters and residents to remain united ahead of the elections, adding that the PDP was committed to rescuing the state from bad governance and political injustice.