By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

Fresh controversy has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations of result manipulation and forgery surrounding the party’s recent Kogi West Senatorial Primary Election.

A presidential aide, Yetunde Adeniji, and former APC Chairman in Kogi State, Hon. Abdullahi “Dollars,” have been accused by aggrieved party stakeholders of involvement in the alleged alteration of the primary election results.

Sources within the party alleged that Adeniji, who reportedly served as Secretary of the May 18 senatorial primary election panel and is believed to be a close ally of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, played a key role in the disputed documentation linked to the exercise.

The allegations were contained in a statement issued by Adewale Asepo, Media Coordinator of the Kirimi Campaign Team.

According to the statement, certain individuals allegedly approached members of the primary election panel claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a change in the election outcome after an alleged meeting with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in Lagos.

However, the campaign team dismissed the claim, insisting there was no evidence that the President authorised any alteration of the primary results. The group described the allegation as misleading and capable of undermining the credibility of the APC’s internal democratic process.

The statement further alleged that a separate return sheet was produced during the disputed process and claimed that some of the signatures appearing on the document were forged.

As of the time of filing this report, the allegations had not been independently verified by relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, political tension within the APC in Kogi West continues to escalate, with former Senator Smart Adeyemi reportedly backing Senator Sunday Karimi amid the growing controversy.

Party stakeholders and political observers have called for calm, transparency, and a comprehensive investigation into the allegations to safeguard confidence in the party’s internal electoral system ahead of future political contests.

Analysts say the unfolding crisis highlights the urgent need for stronger internal safeguards, transparent documentation processes, and impartial oversight during party primaries to prevent disputes capable of eroding public trust in democratic institutions.