posted March 25, 2023
Kogi State APC leadership has screened Alhaji Murtala Yakubu-Ajaka, one of the governorship aspirants who was earlier reported to have been suspended from the party on Thursday.
This reprieve came for Ajaka after Governor Yahaya Bello waded into the matter and appealed for calm among party members.
Also screened by the party were the State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, and Sen. Smart Adeyemi, among other leading politicians jostling to succeed Governor Bello, all things being equal, by January 2024.
Ajaka was earlier suspended on Thursday last week for alleged anti-party activities, which the governor and Party leadership frowned at.
Wading into the matter, Bello, being the leader of the party in the State, warned against in-fighting that could undermine the peace and unity the APC had been known for, under his leadership.
He had advised all aspirants in the forthcoming governorship primaries in the state to market themselves with clear policy vision to the electorate and party members and, also, refrain from divisive tendencies that will impact the fortunes of the party in the State.
Yakubu-Ajaka from Kogi East is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC.
Shortly after his screening, Yakubu-Ajaka described his purported suspension as an “avoidable distraction” and thanked the governor for his fatherly role in solving the matter.
“I will rather remain focused so as to emerge victorious in the forthcoming APC primary election scheduled for April 10.
“All I want is for all members of the party, especially my supporters across the state to remain calm because, in a political contest of this nature, there is room for a clash of interests.
“By the grace of God, everything legitimate will be done to ensure a well-deserving victory for me at the forthcoming primary election, ” he assured.
According to the expression of interest, so far, not less than 20 people from different political parties have expressed interest to take over the governorship seat in Kogi at the expiration of Yahaya Bello’s tenure by January 27, 2024.