By Adeka Sulieman
Fresh controversy has continued to trail the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election in Kogi West, following allegations of result manipulation and forgery involving key political figures connected to the process.
According to claims emerging from within the party, a presidential aide, Yetunde Adeniji, alongside former APC Chairman in Kogi State, Hon. Abdullahi “Dollars,” has been accused by aggrieved stakeholders of involvement in the alleged alteration of the primary election result.
Yetunde Adeniji, who reportedly served as secretary of the May 18 senatorial primary election panel and is regarded as a longtime ally of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, was alleged to have played a central role in the disputed documentation surrounding the exercise.
In a statement issued by Adewale Asepo, Media Coordinator of the Kirimi Campaign Team, the group alleged that some individuals approached members of the panel with claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a change in the outcome of the primary election following an alleged meeting between Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the President in Lagos.
However, the campaign team maintained that there was no evidence that the President gave any directive authorising a change of results, describing the alleged claim as misleading and capable of damaging the integrity of the party’s internal democratic process.
The statement further alleged that a separate return sheet was produced and used in the disputed process, claiming that several signatures appearing on the document were forged. The allegations have, however, not been independently verified by authorities at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, political tensions within the Kogi West APC bloc appear to be deepening, with former senator Smart Adeyemi reportedly throwing his support behind Senator Sunday Karimi amid the growing controversy.
Party stakeholders and observers have continued to call for calm, transparency, and a thorough investigation into the allegations to preserve confidence in the APC’s internal electoral system and maintain unity ahead of future political contests.
Analysts say the development underscores the urgent need for stronger internal mechanisms, credible documentation processes, and impartial oversight during party primaries to avoid disputes capable of undermining public trust in democratic institutions.
