Toba Owojaiye reporting
In a recent development surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in Kogi state, former Senator Smart Adeyemi has made a bold statement about the fairness and legitimacy of the process. Adeyemi, who previously represented Kogi West in the National Assembly, has voiced his concerns regarding the primary election.
Adeyemi revealed that a staggering 228 wards reported having no results in the APC primary election, and he emphasized that this issue cannot be ignored. As a response to what he perceived as a flawed process, he has taken the matter to the Supreme Court. His goal is to determine whether Usman Ododo’s candidacy as the party’s flagbearer can be legally justified.
During an interview with TVC, Adeyemi clarified that his grievances are not directed at Governor Yahaya Bello or his government but rather at the questionable process that led to Ododo’s selection. He underscored the importance of transparency and fairness in such crucial political events. He said, “For anybody to be elected as a flagbearer; you must pass through a valid election. Can you justify 11 ward results before the judges or before the jurists? 228 wards had no results. 228 wards had no result (in the APC primaries), and you expect us to keep quiet.”
Senator Smart Adeyemi’s influence within the APC is substantial, having served three tenures as a senator. This gives his concerns added weight in the party’s internal affairs.
In the legal realm, the Supreme Court has adjourned an appeal filed by Adeyemi against previous judgments on the Kogi APC Governorship primary election to October 23, 2023. Adeyemi’s initial suit at the Federal High Court aimed to nullify the primary election that produced Usman Ododo as the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming state governorship election.
Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal had previously dismissed Adeyemi’s case, citing a lack of merit. The upcoming Supreme Court judgment is anticipated to bring clarity to this contentious issue, further defining the trajectory of Kogi’s political landscape.