By George Solomon
The controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Kogi West has continued to generate debate, but one fact remains difficult to dispute: Senator Sunday Steve Karimi emerged from the party’s primary election as the officially declared winner.
Having secured an overwhelming victory with 51,665 votes in the APC direct primary, Karimi’s mandate was publicly announced by the party’s designated returning officer after the exercise. The margin of victory left little room for doubt about the choice made by APC members across the district.
In the days that followed, allegations of attempts to alter the outcome, circulate alternative results, and create confusion within the party surfaced in the media.
Several stakeholders described such moves as political distractions capable of undermining the credibility of the APC’s internal democratic process.
Politics is often characterised by intense competition, lobbying, and strategic manoeuvres.
However, no amount of political pressure or backstage calculations should override the clearly expressed will of party members.
Democracy is sustained when the outcome of a transparent process is respected. Supporters of Senator Karimi argue that his emergence reflects confidence in his representation of Kogi West at the National Assembly.
They maintain that any effort to deny him the ticket after a concluded primary would not only disregard the votes of party members but could also create unnecessary divisions within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For the APC, preserving internal unity depends largely on respecting its own rules and the outcome of duly conducted primaries. Once a candidate has emerged through the recognised process, every stakeholder has a responsibility to place the party’s collective interest above personal ambition.
Ultimately, the strength of democracy lies in the sanctity of the ballot. If the officially declared results are allowed to stand without interference, confidence in the party’s internal democratic system will be strengthened.
No threat, intimidation, or political antics should be allowed to overturn the mandate freely given to Senator Sunday Karimi by APC members in Kogi West.
