Kogi APC chieftain urges former deputy governor to back East senatorial candidate

Hon. Aminu Attah, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, has challenged former Deputy Governor Chief Edward Onoja to publicly support the party’s candidate for the Kogi East senatorial seat, Chief Joseph Ameh Erico. Attah made the statement on Tuesday, accusing Onoja of remaining lukewarm in his efforts to mobilise grassroots support for Erico ahead of the 2027 general elections. The APC stakeholder argued that Onoja’s inaction threatens both the internal unity of the party and its overall electoral strength in the region.

Attah, who served as a Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor, insisted that the APC’s campaign structure requires a top-to-bottom approach where members support all party flagbearers. He described the practice of campaigning exclusively for President Bola Tinubu while ignoring other candidates as a form of party indiscipline. According to Attah, genuine reconciliation within the party, particularly between Onoja and other stakeholders, depends on collective effort to secure victory across all electoral tickets. He further alleged that Onoja’s support for the President is currently limited to paper endorsements, as the former deputy governor has refused to publicly back other party candidates.

Background

The political tension in Kogi State centres on the Kogi East senatorial race, which involves the Ankpa, Omala, and Olamaboro Federal Constituencies. Both Chief Edward Onoja and Chief Joseph Ameh Erico hail from Olamaboro Local Government Area. Attah dismissed rumours that Onoja is opposing Erico out of fear that a senatorial victory for Erico would jeopardise his own chances of securing a federal appointment under President Tinubu. Attah stated that federal appointments are based on effort, commitment, and competence, rather than geographic origin. He emphasised that the emergence of Erico as the senatorial candidate represents a significant milestone for the constituency, which has long sought representation at the Senate level. The APC recently consolidated its position in the state by winning all 21 chairmanship positions and all 239 councillorship seats in the local government elections, a result announced by Mamman Eri, the chairman of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), in Lokoja.

Why it matters

The dispute highlights internal fractures within the ruling party in Kogi State as it prepares for the 2027 polls. Attah warned that anti-party activities and isolated campaigning for the presidential candidate alone would weaken the party’s voting strength. He urged politicians currently focused solely on the presidential campaign to return to their grassroots communities to sell the entire party ticket. The stakes involve not only the senatorial seat but also the broader political influence of the APC in the state, where the party has recently demonstrated dominance in local government elections. Attah insisted that tolerating selective campaigning would be detrimental to the party's objectives and the interests of the region.

What happens next

Attah called on Onoja to publicly endorse Erico to demonstrate commitment to the party’s collective success. He stated that the party would not tolerate activities that undermine its unity or its candidates. The former SSA urged all APC stakeholders to align their efforts with the party’s directive to support every candidate on the ticket, ensuring that the grassroots mobilisation is comprehensive rather than fragmented.