BY AHMED AKANBI
Agitation for power shift to Kogi West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 governorship election has intensified, with stakeholders declaring that “it is now West O’Clock” after 35 years of exclusion.
The demand was made in memoranda submitted by community and political groups from the district under the aegis of ‘DeGroup’ to the Kogi Power Rotation Summit convened to address equity and unity in the state.
In its memorandum, the Rimi Development Association, Lokoja, said since the creation of Kogi State in 1991, Kogi East had held power for nearly 20 years and Kogi Central for almost 16 years, while Kogi West has never produced a governor.
The association described the situation as 35 years of absolute exclusion, saying allowing the West to produce the next governor would complete the rotation cycle and correct a structural imbalance.
It also demanded equity in deputy governorship, legislative leadership, appointments, infrastructure and minority representation across the three senatorial districts.
The group called for a binding ‘Kogi Charter of Equity,’ clear rotation rules by political parties, audit of past appointments and projects, and an advisory council to monitor compliance in the 21 local government areas.
Speaking at a press conference, former House of Representatives member, Barrister Shaaba Ibrahim, who represented Lokoja/Kogi/Koton-Karfe, said Kogi West remains the most shortchanged in the state’s power equation.
Ibrahim alleged that memoranda submitted by various interest groups from the West were not considered at the summit, saying, “We feel our voices have been muzzled and suppressed.”
”We are emotional about this; we are committed to the issue of power rotation to the West. There’s no better time than now to address the imbalance,” he said.
Also speaking, Suleiman Mohammed Baba of the Danko Development Forum (DDF) said the West’s demand is anchored on equity, justice and inclusiveness, noting that the zone had supported other zones in the past.
He cited power-sharing in old Kwara State under Dr Olusola Saraki as an example of accommodating minorities, adding that DDF proposed a seven-point recommendation including an equity charter and implementation committee.
Retired Col Kabiru Ndamodu, Public Relations Officer, PRO of the group, alleged that West delegates were harassed at the summit, with their maroon caps and banners seized and some allegedly burnt, contrary to the summit’s objectives of peace and dialogue.
The groups warned that allowing another zone to retain power beyond the current tenure would further prolong the wait for Kogi East and deepen distrust in the system.