By 
Concerned stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West Senatorial District have condemned the action of the APC chairman in Kogi State, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, during the recent decampment rally in honor of former Governor Captain Idris Wada.
The stakeholders alleged that Bello imported thugs to disrupt the rally, embarrass a distinguished serving senator, and humiliate Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Chairman of the APC, Professor Yaldratiwa, and other dignitaries at the event.
In a statement by Alhaji Mohammed Sanni, the stakeholders expressed disappointment with Bello’s actions, saying it showcased his high-handedness and bullying tactics.
This action was demonstrated and seen by many when Abdullahi Bello saw the way the serving senator was warmly welcomed and received by party supporters into the rally arena; he quickly signaled his imported thugs to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere and serene environment, creating a chaotic situation with chanting of unwarranted songs, wherein it took Vice President Shettima some time to calm things down.
His singular action has further exposed the high-handedness and iron-fisted way the party leadership in the state is handling the affairs of the party, bullying members at will without any check.
They claimed that Bello’s leadership has failed to guarantee cohesion within the party and called on the national leadership to dissolve the state executive council led by him.
The group demanded the appointment of a caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs pending the congress before the 2027 general elections.
The group said that, at this critical stage of the party in the state, it is an open secret that the Abdullahi Bello leadership only recognizes Ododo Usman as its own, because it was displayed right in the presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, when the national party chairman, Professor Yaldratiwa, called out “4 + 4” and the people could only answer with “Ododo”.
It took the national party chairman himself, at the fourth time, to say “Tinubu”. What that connotes is that Abdullahi Bello and his cohorts are not genuinely supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Just like the way their master frustrated the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state by withholding the push money, blaming the delay on poor bank network.
It is on record that the push money meant for the Saturday election was disbursed on the following Monday, days after the said election; the same thing they have started again.
It is also noteworthy that, since the inception of the party in the state, and specifically from 2015, they have held onto both the party chairmanship and governorship of the state, a situation that has continued to promote acrimony within the party.
Having both key positions in the state and party within one senatorial district has polarized the party; hence, there is a need to change the leadership of the party to propel a new chapter for the party in Kogi State.
It is obvious that, the current face of the party being led by Abdullahi Bello at the state level lacks integrity and it needs to change to attract more heavyweight politicians across the length and breadth of the state.
There is no gainsaying that the likes of Muri Ajaka and his group are a formidable strength in the Eastern Senatorial District that need to reunite with the party, but the current leadership of Governor Usman Ododo, Abdullahi Bello, and Yahaya Bello are not doing well; hence, they lack the capacity and capability to attract such men of goodwill into the party.
The time is now to change the State Executive Council of the party to a people-oriented leadership that will galvanize fresh air into the party for real progress, inclusivity, and cohesion.
The group believes that the new leadership should comprise credible individuals who will be fair enough to attract credible personalities, like the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, her group and other well meaning personalities across the state into the party.
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