2027 Kogi Governorship: Kogi Ex-Speaker Denies Lobbying Faleke, Calls for APC Unity
Former Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker Matthew Kolawole has dismissed claims that he lobbied Hon. James Faleke to contest the 2027 governorship election, urging APC leaders to avoid divisive meetings and preserve party unity.
Former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole, has dismissed reports alleging that his recent visit to Hon. James Abiodun Faleke in Abuja was intended to persuade the federal lawmaker to contest the 2027 Kogi State governorship election.
Kolawole described the claims circulating on social media as false and misleading, saying they were capable of creating unnecessary tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State.
The former Speaker made the clarification on Saturday while addressing APC stakeholders at a meeting in Kabba, where he explained that his visit to Faleke was strictly personal and had no political undertone.
According to him, the purpose of the visit was to formally invite the lawmaker to an event he is scheduled to host in Lokoja in August.
“There was nothing political about my visit. I only visited Hon. James Faleke to invite him to my programmes coming up in August in Lokoja. It is unfortunate that some people chose to misrepresent the visit as an attempt to persuade him to contest the 2027 governorship election. That narrative is completely false,” Kolawole said.
He urged members of the APC and the general public to disregard the speculation, stressing that political actors should avoid spreading unfounded claims capable of sowing discord within the ruling party.
The former Speaker also expressed concern over what he described as the growing trend of sectional meetings among APC leaders, warning that such gatherings could undermine the unity and cohesion of the party, particularly in Kogi West.
Kolawole maintained that the APC has continued to remain a formidable political force because of its inclusive leadership style and collective decision-making process.
He cautioned that attempts to polarise the party through exclusive political engagements would only weaken its structures ahead of future elections.
Calling for greater unity, he urged party leaders and stakeholders to place the collective interest of the APC above personal ambitions and sectional considerations, insisting that cohesion within the party remains essential to its continued electoral success.
“We must continue to work together as one family. Our strength lies in our unity, and every stakeholder should be committed to preserving the peace and stability that have sustained our party over the years,” he stated.
Kolawole’s remarks came during the Kogi West APC stakeholders’ meeting convened by the immediate past Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Hon. Funsho Olumoko, and the Kogi State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd.).
The meeting brought together party leaders and stakeholders from across Kogi West, who unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a second term in office.
The stakeholders also cautioned political appointees and party members against acts capable of undermining the unity of the APC, including anti-party activities, as preparations gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The gathering reaffirmed the commitment of party leaders in the district to strengthening internal cohesion and maintaining a united front in support of the APC at both the state and national levels.