Critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the seven local government areas of Kogi West Senatorial District have called on Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, to refrain from involving traditional institutions in partisan politics.
The appeal was made by the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum (KWALF) in a statement issued on Friday in Lokoja and signed by its Coordinator, Hon. Orebiyi Mathew.
The forum warned that dragging traditional rulers into political contests could undermine their neutrality, deepen divisions within communities and increase political tension across the district.
According to the statement, the group received reports of an alleged meeting aimed at persuading traditional rulers in Kogi West to make what it described as false and misleading statements against Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, the APC’s candidate for the 2027 Kogi West Senatorial election.
KWALF alleged that the purported move was designed to misinform President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the general public.
The forum stressed that traditional rulers are custodians of culture, symbols of unity and father figures whose responsibilities require political neutrality.
It argued that involving monarchs in partisan political activities amounts to a desecration of the traditional institution and should not be encouraged.
The stakeholders also urged Governor Ododo not to politicise previous communal misunderstandings involving traditional rulers in Yagba West, maintaining that Senator Karimi had no involvement in the dispute or the alleged detention of any traditional ruler.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi enjoys a cordial and productive relationship with the traditional institution in Yagba West under the leadership of the Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayodele Erukera,” the statement said.
KWALF further alleged that attempts to associate the senator with conflicts involving traditional institutions were aimed at damaging his reputation before President Tinubu and frustrating his bid for re-election in 2027.
The forum described such claims as “erroneous and mischievous,” insisting that the senator continues to enjoy widespread grassroots support due to what it described as his impactful representation, people-oriented projects, legislative initiatives and constituency programmes.
The group also appealed to traditional rulers across Kogi West to preserve the sanctity of their offices by resisting attempts to draw them into partisan politics.
It urged the monarchs to maintain the trust of their subjects by remaining impartial and upholding the neutrality expected of the traditional institution.
