A group within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Kogi APC Renaissance Forum, has rejected the appointment of Hon. Abdulazeez Idris King as Coordinator and Renewed Hope Ambassador for Kogi State.

The group also alleged ethnic favouritism and lack of competence in the appointment.

The group made these disclosures in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Emmanuel Adejo.

The group, in a statement on Sunday, advised the Renewed Hope National Ambassador and Director-General of Party Outreach, Engagement and Mobilisation, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, as well as the North Central Zonal Coordinator, Senator Tanko Al-Makura to listen to its cry and do the needful.

The group clarified that its objection is not targeted at any individual or ethnic group but is driven by the need to correct what it described as a “critical error” in the appointment process of the Coordinator and Renewed Hope Ambassador for the State.

According to the Forum, failing to reverse the appointment would negatively affect the Renewed Hope Ambassador’s Program, which is designed to strengthen grassroots mobilisation in support of President Tinubu’s national renewal agenda.

The group described this concentration of appointments as “worrisome” and “an abuse of privilege,” arguing that nominating yet another individual from Okene undermines fairness, equity, and inclusivity.

In one of the statement’s strongest remarks, the Forum declared that “the people of Kogi East and West are not slaves to Kogi Central,” expressing deep dissatisfaction with what it perceives as systemic marginalisation.

The group supported its position with voting data from the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.

“In 2019, APC received 285,894 votes in Kogi State, with Kogi East contributing 113,919—nearly 40% of the total. In 2023, Kogi East delivered 107,354 votes, Kogi West gave 78,496, while Kogi Central accounted for 55,858”

The Forum argued that Kogi East and West have consistently been the backbone of APC victory in the state and therefore deserve a fair share of strategic political appointments, especially those tied directly to the president’s mobilisation structure.

On this basis, the Forum appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma and Senator Tanko Al-Makura to immediately withdraw the appointment of Hon. Abdulazeez Idris King.

It called for the selection of a more “formidable and politically savvy personality” from either Kogi East or Kogi West—someone it believes can better champion the Renewed Hope initiative in the state. (TRIBUNE)