Kogi Guber: No vacancy in Lugard House, says National/State Assembly members-elect
Kogi APC Lawmakers-Elect Endorse Yahaya Bello for Second Term
All Progressives Congress (APC) National and State Assembly members-elect from Kogi State have unanimously endorsed Governor Yahaya Bello for a second term in office.
The lawmakers, who declared that there was “no vacancy” in Lugard House, the seat of the Kogi State Government, also dismissed claims that Bello had underperformed during his first term.
The group was led by the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, and comprised two senators-elect, seven House of Representatives members-elect and all 25 members-elect of the State House of Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Kolawole said the endorsement was based on what the lawmakers considered Bello’s achievements in key sectors and his role in strengthening the APC in the state.
He said it had become necessary for the elected APC lawmakers, as major stakeholders in the party, to publicly state their position ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
According to Kolawole, the APC’s performance in Kogi during the 2019 general elections reflected what he described as the purposeful leadership of Governor Bello.
He claimed that the party’s membership in the state had grown from fewer than 50,000 members in 2015 to more than 500,000 registered members.
The lawmakers also argued that the Kogi APC had transformed from a divided political organisation into a more united and competitive party under Bello’s leadership.
Kolawole said the administration had recorded achievements in security, education, infrastructure development, civil service reforms and human capital development, adding that Bello deserved another term to consolidate on those programmes.
On that basis, the lawmakers-elect unanimously endorsed the governor to contest the 2019 Kogi governorship election.
They also announced plans to contribute funds to purchase the APC governorship nomination and expression of interest forms for Bello.
The group pledged to mobilise voters across their respective constituencies to support the governor and ensure victory for the APC in the election.
They described Bello as a leader who, in their view, promoted development across the state without regard to ethnic or religious differences.
The lawmakers also warned party members against actions capable of creating divisions within the Kogi APC.
They assured the APC National Working Committee that, contrary to reports of internal disagreements, the state chapter of the party remained united ahead of the governorship election.
