By Yekini Jimoh
As the countdown to the 2027 general elections begins, one political reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore
Senator Sunday Steve Karimi enters the race for the Kogi West Senatorial District as the man every other aspirant must overcome.
Politics is ultimately about performance, visibility and public confidence. On these fronts, Karimi has placed himself in a commanding position.
Since his election to the Senate, he has maintained a visible presence in the district through constituency projects, interventions and legislative engagements.
While no public office holder can satisfy every expectation, the perception in many quarters is that the senator has remained connected to the people who elected him.
Equally significant is the political machinery behind him. The All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the dominant political force in Kogi State, and with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo at the helm, the party is expected to approach the 2027 elections with considerable organisational strength.
A united APC would provide Senator Karimi with an electoral advantage that few opponents can easily match.
Beyond party politics, Karimi has succeeded in building a political identity that extends across the seven local government areas of Kogi West.
His consistent engagement on matters of security, infrastructure, education and governance has kept him in the public eye and reinforced his relevance in the district’s political conversation. In politics, visibility matters, and Karimi has understood that reality.
Still, no election should be taken for granted. Kogi West has a politically aware electorate that has repeatedly shown it will reward performance and punish complacency. Opposition parties are expected to field credible candidates, while internal divisions within the APC, if allowed to fester, could weaken the party’s chances.
These are challenges that should not be underestimated.
Yet, based on the current political landscape, it would be difficult to argue that any contender begins the race from a stronger position than Senator Karimi.
He possesses the advantages of incumbency, a well-established political structure, broad name recognition and the backing of a governing party with deep grassroots support.
The burden now shifts to his challengers. They must convince voters not merely that change is desirable, but that they offer a better alternative. In politics, defeating an incumbent requires more than ambition—it demands a compelling vision, credible leadership and a campaign capable of inspiring confidence across the district.
For now, the political equation in Kogi West appears straightforward. Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has set the pace, and every serious contender will have to measure up to it. Unless there is a dramatic shift in the political landscape before 2027, the incumbent remains the candidate to beat.
This editorial represents the opinion of the writer and is intended to stimulate public discussion on the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections in Kogi West Senatorial District.
