APC Leaders Insist Aro’s Emergence Is Legally Sealed, Warn Against Candidate Substitution in Kogi West Senatorial Race
Leaders of the APC in Kogi West have declared that Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro remains the party’s valid senatorial candidate, arguing that his emergence followed due process and cannot be legally substituted under the Electoral Act.
A coalition of senior leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West has declared that the emergence of Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro as the party’s senatorial candidate is legally binding and cannot be altered outside the provisions of the Electoral Act, warning against any attempt to substitute his name ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a world press conference on Saturday, the leaders, under the platform of the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum, maintained that Aro’s nomination followed every constitutional and statutory requirement governing party primaries and candidate nomination.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the forum, former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Alfa Imam, stated that Aro emerged victorious after a duly conducted APC senatorial primary, with the outcome subsequently upheld by the party’s Appeal Committee.
According to him, the nomination process was conducted in accordance with the APC Constitution, the Electoral Act and established electoral procedures, adding that reports from relevant institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), formed part of the documentation accompanying the exercise.
He noted that following the completion of the process, Aro’s nomination was duly transmitted to INEC, making him the party’s recognised candidate for the Kogi West Senatorial District.
The forum argued that, under the Electoral Act, a political party cannot arbitrarily replace a duly nominated candidate after submission of his name to INEC except under clearly defined legal circumstances.
Citing the provisions of the law on candidate substitution, Imam explained that a candidate can only be replaced if he voluntarily communicates his withdrawal to INEC in writing, stating the reasons for the decision, or in the event of death, which must be duly established.
“In the case of Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, none of these conditions exists. He has neither withdrawn his candidature nor is there any circumstance that warrants substitution under the law,” the forum stated.
The APC leaders therefore called on INEC to reject any request seeking to substitute Aro’s name, insisting that accepting such a request would amount to a violation of the Electoral Act and the principles guiding internal party democracy.
The group also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the leadership of the APC and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, to ensure that every action taken regarding the party’s senatorial ticket conforms with the provisions of the law and the party’s constitution.
While reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu and Governor Ododo, the forum commended both leaders for ongoing infrastructure development across Kogi State, particularly the rehabilitation of the Obajana–Kabba–Egbe–Omuaran–Ilorin Road and the Kabba–Iyara–Ifaki Road.
The leaders pledged continued support for the administration at both the federal and state levels, stressing that their position on the senatorial ticket was anchored solely on the need to uphold due process, internal democracy and the credibility of the APC.
According to the forum, the issue extends beyond an individual ambition and touches on the integrity of party primaries and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
They urged party supporters across Kogi West to remain peaceful, law-abiding and committed to pursuing all legitimate avenues in defending what they described as the sanctity of the party’s nomination process.
“We remain confident that truth, justice and the rule of law will ultimately prevail,” the leaders declared.
Other prominent APC stakeholders present at the briefing, including party chieftain Hon. Alfred Bello, Kogi West APC Zonal Chairman Hon. Emmanuel Ayo, and the APC State Youth Leader, Buhari Lokoja, also reaffirmed their support for Aro’s candidature.
They maintained that any move to replace the APC senatorial candidate outside the procedures prescribed by law would be resisted through constitutional means, insisting that respect for due process remains fundamental to sustaining confidence in the party and Nigeria’s electoral system.