Fresh controversy has engulfed the build-up to the 2027 elections in Kogi State following allegations that candidates for the State House of Assembly elections were imposed by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress despite earlier assurances of a transparent process.

Multiple aggrieved aspirants and party sources accused Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of supervising what one dissatisfied contender described as a “robbery of democracy” during consultations and arrangements for the party primaries held between late April and early May 2026 at the Government House in Lokoja.

The allegations come in spite of reports that the governor had repeatedly assured aspirants that his administration would not impose candidates for elective offices in the upcoming APC primaries.

However, investigations indicate growing resentment among party faithful across the state, with critics warning that the alleged imposition of candidates could threaten the APC’s unity and electoral chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Party insiders fear the development may trigger anti-party activities, especially among aspirants who believe loyal and popular contenders were sidelined in favour of what they described as “system candidates.”

“The development has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the excluded aspirants, some of whom have vowed to work against the party during the general election,” a party source disclosed.

According to accounts from some of the aspirants, Governor Ododo had informed attendees during a meeting in Lokoja that the administration had adopted what he called a “controlled democracy” approach to selecting candidates.

Under the arrangement, candidates from the state constituencies were expected to emerge through consensus rather than an open contest.

One of the affected aspirants claimed that over 150 hopefuls from Kogi West were cautioned against purchasing nomination forms outside the arrangement, as doing so would amount to a waste of resources.

“We were issued a stern warning not to bother to purchase nomination forms as it would amount to a waste of money,” the aspirant alleged.

According to him, nomination and expression-of-interest forms were allegedly removed from the state party secretariat and taken to the Government House, where aspirants were grouped according to local government areas and directed to agree on consensus candidates.

The source further alleged that despite the consultations, decisions had already been taken to return serving lawmakers in several constituencies, including Yagba West, Yagba East, and Mopamuro.

“The exercise was in futility as the leadership had decided to return the three sitting members of the House of Assembly,” the aspirant claimed.

The controversy was said to have extended to the 12 newly restored state constituencies, where critics alleged that candidates were handpicked without consultation with other aspirants.

Another aggrieved aspirant lamented that many contenders only learned of the final decisions through social media announcements. “We only heard the announcement on social media.

Nobody called us to any meeting,” he said, claiming to have spent over ₦10 million on consultations across party structures at ward and local government levels over the past year.
Some disgruntled party members also accused Governor Ododo of hypocrisy, alleging that while he resisted the return of some federal lawmakers reportedly backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC, he ensured the return of most sitting members of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

The development, analysts warn, could deepen internal divisions within the ruling party in the state as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.