LOKOJA, NIGERIA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has formally announced the emergence of seven candidates who scaled through the party’s recently concluded primary elections for the House of Representatives.
The announcement, contained in an official statement released by the Kogi State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Muhammed Sanni Gambo, unveils the first batch of flag bearers who will represent the main opposition party in the upcoming national legislative elections.
According to the state leadership, the primary elections were conducted across various designated constituencies under a peaceful, orderly, and democratic atmosphere, reflecting the internal cohesion and readiness of the party ahead of the general election cycle.
The Lineup of Declared Winners
The official list released by the state party chairman details the successful aspirants across seven of the state's federal constituencies, spanning the central, western, and parts of the eastern senatorial districts.
In the Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency, Abdulrahman Badamasui emerged victorious after securing the majority vote from party delegates. For the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, the ticket was clinched by Abdulkadir Ibrahim, who will now lead the party's campaign in the critical state capital axis.
In Okene/Ogori Magongo Federal Constituency, Muhammed Etudaiye secured the mandate of the party faithful, while Mohammed Idris Lawal emerged as the official candidate to fly the PDP flag in the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency.
Moving into the eastern flank, Okolo Ikani Benjamin won the primary election for the Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, positioning himself to contest one of the state's largest federal voting blocs.
In Kogi West, the primary for the Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency concluded with Femi Victor Olubiyo picking up the democratic mandate. Similarly, Ibigbemi Sesan Samuel emerged as the consensus choice and winner for the Yagba Federal Constituency.
The overall list of successful flag bearers includes Abdulrahman Badamasui for Adavi/Okehi, Abdulkadir Ibrahim for Lokoja/Kogi, Muhammed Etudaiye for Okene/Ogori Magongo, Mohammed Idris Lawal for Ajaokuta, Okolo Ikani Benjamin for Dekina/Bassa, Femi Victor Olubiyo for Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu, and Ibigbemi Sesan Samuel for Yagba Federal Constituency.
Ankpa and Idah Results Pending
While the party celebrated the smooth conclusion of the exercise in the seven federal constituencies, the state leadership noted that the selection process for the remaining regions is still being finalized.
Muhammed Sanni Gambo clarified that the official results and names of the successful candidates for the Ankpa Federal Constituency and the Idah Federal Constituency are yet to be released.
The party hierarchy stated that administrative reviews and the final collation of delegate votes for these two constituencies are currently underway, and an official announcement will be made as soon as the electoral panels submit their verified reports to the state secretariat.
A Call for Absolute Unity Ahead of the Polls
Following the declaration of the primary election winners, the Kogi State PDP leadership has strongly appealed to all party stakeholders, aggrieved aspirants, and grassroots members to shield their swords and unite for the greater task ahead.
The party chairman commended the maturity, discipline, and sportsmanship displayed by all contestants during the primary elections, emphasizing that the peaceful nature of the exercise proved that the PDP remains a structurally sound and mature democratic institution.
"The primaries were conducted in a remarkably peaceful manner across the state. We congratulate our victorious flag bearers, but more importantly, we urge every single member of our great party to rally behind them. The primary election was an internal family affair; the real contest is the general election, and we need a united front to deliver victory for the people of Kogi State."
The party further stated that a reconciliation committee would be set up if necessary to interface with runner-up aspirants, ensuring that no member feels marginalized as the party transitions into full-scale, statewide campaign mode.
