2027: Ex-Kogi Speaker Backs Ododo’s Re-election, Rejects Rotation Argument

Former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Umar Ahmed Imam, has declared support for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s re-election bid in November 2027, insisting that the agitation for power rotation should not deny the incumbent the opportunity to serve a constitutionally permitted second term.

Imam, who is also the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Lokoja Local Government Area, stated this on Saturday at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Lokoja.

He acknowledged that power rotation among Kogi Central, Kogi East and Kogi West remained a legitimate demand for equity, fairness and peaceful coexistence, but argued that the principle should not be used to prevent Ododo from seeking re-election.

The former speaker recalled that stakeholders from different ethnic, political, age and gender groups had gathered at Galaxy Event Centre in Lokoja for a summit to deliberate on power rotation and equitable political representation in the state.

According to him, representatives of various interest groups, ethnic associations, political parties and local government areas had since returned to their communities to review the resolutions reached at the summit.

Imam said critical stakeholders in Lokoja Local Government Area had examined the outcome of the meeting and endorsed power rotation as a political arrangement capable of promoting peace, unity and harmony among the state’s three senatorial districts.

He, however, maintained that the principle should not be applied in a way that would undermine the incumbent governor’s constitutional right to seek another term.

The APC leader argued that elected officials across the country, including councillors, local government chairmen, members of state and National Assemblies, as well as President Bola Tinubu, were seeking re-election or another term where constitutionally permitted.

“It will therefore be curious to now subject the well-deserved return of Governor Ododo to an unwarranted debate,” he said.

Imam consequently declared the support and commitment of Lokoja stakeholders to Ododo’s re-election in November 2027, calling on people of goodwill across the state to join the campaign.

He said the governor’s return would consolidate the prevailing peace in Kogi State and enable him to sustain and improve on his administration’s developmental programmes.

The former speaker also urged stakeholders who endorsed the governor to translate their declaration into concrete political action, stressing that their commitment should go beyond press statements and media coverage.

He expressed optimism that the declaration would mobilise support for Ododo’s second-term ambition and strengthen efforts towards the continued development of Kogi State.