2027: Group Insists On Power Rotation To Kogi West, Condemns Summit

A group, known as Degroup, has reiterated its demand for the rotation of political power to Kogi West Senatorial District in 2027, saying the issue should not be subjected to unnecessary debate.

The group stated this on Wednesday at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Speaking at the event, spokesperson of the group and former member of the House of Representatives representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, Barrister Shaba Ibrahim, said Degroup remained committed to ensuring that political power was rotated to Kogi West in 2027.

Shaba said the recent power-shift summit organised by the Kogi State Government was expected to provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the longstanding agitation, but alleged that some members of his delegation were intimidated during the event.

Members of the Kogi  west group, during the press conference in Lokoja on Wednesday

“We were invited to the summit, which was supposed to advocate peace, but some of our delegates were intimidated. Our supporters were harassed and our banners were destroyed,” he alleged.

He said the agitation for power rotation in Kogi State was not a recent development, noting that the issue had been raised and discussed under previous administrations, including that of the late former Governor Abubakar Audu.

The former lawmaker acknowledged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s constitutional right to seek a second term in office, but maintained that the governor’s right did not invalidate the group’s demand for power rotation.

“The governor has a constitutional right to a second term, but that cannot stop our agitation,” he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Muhammed Sulaiman Baba, who represented the Danko Development Association and DDF, said the community-based organisations backing the agitation were motivated by what he described as the principles of equity, justice and fairness.

Baba said the association submitted seven recommendations to the summit, including a proposal that political power should rotate to Kogi West from 2027.

He, however, alleged that the events at the summit fell short of the objective of promoting peace and dialogue, as some persons described as thugs allegedly destroyed banners belonging to supporters of the power-shift campaign.

Similarly, retired Colonel Kabir Ndamadu described the development as “a show of shame,” insisting that supporters of power rotation would not abandon their demand despite what he described as harassment.

“What we see today is a show of shame,” he said.

Ndamadu added that the group would continue to mobilise support for the rotation of political power to Kogi West.

The press conference was attended by former Director with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Alhaji Bala Haruna; Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Baba; Alhaji Hamisu Nayashi; and retired Colonel Ndamadu Ndalugi, among others.