Kogi 2027: Political Battle Intensifies as Kogi East Emerges Key to Governorship Race
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Alkali Monday Akume
LOKOJA, Kogi State — Political activities ahead of the 2027 Kogi State governorship election appear to be gathering momentum, with Kogi East increasingly emerging as a crucial political bloc whose support could shape the outcome of the contest.
The renewed political attention on the eastern senatorial district follows a series of engagements involving Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and prominent sons of Kogi East, amid growing speculation over possible alliances ahead of the 2027 election.
In recent days, Governor Ododo has paid courtesy visits to notable Igala leaders and political stakeholders in Kogi East. Although the governor has not publicly stated that the visits were directly connected to his 2027 re-election campaign, the engagements have attracted political interest, with observers interpreting them as part of wider consultations ahead of the election.
The visits come at a time when political actors across the three senatorial districts are beginning to position themselves for the next governorship contest.
Kogi West has also intensified discussions around the zoning of the governorship to the district. Senator Sunday Karimi has publicly argued on several occasions that it is time for Kogi West to produce the governor, a position that has generated conversations about possible political alliances with Kogi East.
Supporters of the zoning argument contend that political power should rotate among the three senatorial districts to promote equity and inclusiveness in the state.
The emerging contest has therefore placed Kogi East in a strategic position, particularly because of its voting strength and historical influence in Kogi politics.
One of the political figures associated with the agitation for a Kogi West governorship is Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, who had previously advocated the zoning of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket to Kogi West during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, the zoning argument did not produce the desired outcome at the time, as the APC leadership eventually maintained its political alignment with the Kogi Central axis, which supported the emergence of the current political arrangement in the state.
With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu now leading the APC at the federal level, political observers are asking whether the earlier demand for a Kogi West governor could receive greater consideration ahead of 2027.
The question has become particularly relevant as politicians and interest groups begin consultations across the state.
For Kogi East, the political calculation is more complex. The district has to determine whether to maintain an alliance with Kogi Central, which has produced governors in recent political cycles, or explore a new political partnership with Kogi West.
Governor Ododo's recent engagements with Igala political stakeholders have consequently fueled speculation about efforts to consolidate support in the eastern senatorial district ahead of the 2027 election.
The governor, who emerged from Kogi Central, would need broad support across the state if he seeks another term, while opposition political actors are expected to intensify their efforts to build a coalition capable of challenging the incumbent.
The political importance of Kogi East extends beyond party structures. The district has a substantial electorate and has historically played a significant role in determining the direction of statewide elections.
As the 2027 contest approaches, political parties and aspirants are therefore expected to court influential leaders, traditional institutions, community stakeholders and grassroots structures in the area.
For now, there is no publicly confirmed agreement indicating that Kogi East has chosen either Kogi West or Kogi Central as its preferred political partner for 2027.
The emerging political realignment is still at the consultation stage, and the eventual decision of major political stakeholders in Kogi East could have significant implications for the governorship race.
The central question now is whether Kogi East will consolidate its existing relationship with Kogi Central or enter into a new political alliance with Kogi West.
With the 2027 election gradually becoming a major subject of political discussion, Kogi East may ultimately become the decisive political bloc in determining who controls Kogi Government House after the next election.
