...X-raying the electoral strength of Kogi Eastern Senatorial District and the possible expectations
There is no gainsaying that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has commenced process of scouting for the running mate for its Party Flag bearer, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
If APC must win from an unbiased analysis, Alhaji Usman Ododo has to pick a running mate from Kogi Eastern Senatorial district.
This is premised on the combination of votes that will emanate from both Kogi East and Central Senatorial districts of the state.
While the Eastern Senatorial District is expected to be given consideration because of its large number of registered voters, especially in Ankpa, Omala, and Olamaboro Federal Constituency, and Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, the APC need to recommend a capable personality, a thoroughbred leader with striking credentials to fly its ticket with the flag bearer.
First, Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, no doubt, has large registered voters. However, the same federal Constituency is known to have a scattered voting pattern due to its counterpart local Government (Bassa Local Government), as reflected in the last general elections.
As such, any personality from that axis may not be an easy ride for the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Gubernatorial election.
Secondly, Idah, Igala-Mela, Ofu, and Ibaji Federal Constituency has almost three (3) gubernatorial candidates for the November Gubernatorial Poll, an obvious indication that the APC will be expecting divided votes from among the candidates.
This of course will affect APC's outing at the Gubernatorial Poll even as we have Kogi East APC chairman from the same axis.
On records, Idah, Igala-Mela, Ofu, and Ibaji Federal axis has had scattered pattern of votes since 1999.
In Ibaji for example, majority of voters often vote in 2 directions: Anti-government votes and Pro-religion votes.
This is mainly because Ibaji people are perceived as outcasts in Igala land possibly because of the tongue difference (which is largely influenced by Igbo and Christianity) and the main Igala (which is often influenced by common ancestry).
More so, Ankpa, Omala, and Olamaboro Federal Constituency is known to be a bloc vote centre overtime. Specifically, Ankpa Local Government Area came second in the last general elections ahead of Dekina Local Government Area despite the number of registered voters in Dekina Local Government Area.
It's on record that Dekina has not always been up to its potential because of the following reason:
It is often the center of the ruling party in Kogi East and It is also often the center of the opposition in Kogi State. This are varifiable pieces of information.
From this analysis, there is no doubt that Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman will fit in as Ododo's running mate to Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo because of his detribalised nature.
The Doctor of Political Economy has demonstrated and still demonstrating his unbiased way of life when it comes to religious or ethnic difference as obviously portrayed by having his ADC a Christian, Personal Assistant, official Videographer/ photographer, Public Relations Unit officer a Christian, his immediate allies and virtually all the establishment headed by Christains in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
Dr. Usman is the only man whose name rings bell, positively in Kogi West and Central Senatorial Districts and I can assure you that this combo of Hon Ahmed Usman Ododo and Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman will win Election seamlessly and convincingly if put together by securing two–third Majority votes across the three senatorial districts, thus exposing and replacing incompetence with competency, capacity and commitments.
It will further ignite the wave of public reorientation and sensitization on the true essence of the representative (and the nature of responsibility that ought to accompany it) and the many public benefits and entitlements that ought to be trickling down from such representative offices as dividends of democracy.
It will also succeed in raising the bar of representation and triggering the spirit of public advocacy for transparency and accountability.
I'm sure the leadership of the party is considering this combination, and if not, now is the time to give it a deep-thought.
Kogi State will be great again devoid of ethnic and religious SENTIMENTS.
- Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK is a seasoned political/ Policy analyst, member All Progressive Congress (APC) and writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
