By Ochiaka Ugwu
A Civil Society Organisation, the Kogi East Political and Economic Summit Group, while pleadging its support for the Kogi East Senator, Jibril Isa Echocho amid growing controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary contest ahead of the 2027 elections has described him as the best candidate for the zone.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Convener of the group, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, accused some political interests of sponsoring campaigns aimed at discrediting the senator despite what he described as his developmental contributions across Kogi East Senatorial District.
Jacob alleged that some critics of the senator were acting on behalf of interests within the Kogi State Government to influence the outcome of the APC primary process.
“Everything they mentioned is not in line with the truth. Senator Jibril Isa Echocho has helped to polish the image of the APC in Kogi East,” he said.
The group maintained that Senator Echocho remained widely accepted across Kogi East because of projects allegedly facilitated by him, including hospitals, school buildings, boreholes, road projects and agricultural support programmes spread across communities in the district.
According to the organisation, the senator’s ranking position in the National Assembly and his committee leadership roles had also helped attract federal opportunities and appointments to the area.
“Anybody who says Senator Jibril Isa has not done anything should go and verify these projects in the constituency,” another member of the group stated.
The organisation also rejected calls for the Kogi East senatorial seat to be rotated away from the district, insisting that the area remained politically disadvantaged despite its population strength and lack of governorship representation.
The group further argued that the leadership of the APC had yet to officially announce the winner of the primary election and appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and party leaders to ensure fairness in the process.
“The best the APC can do for us in Kogi East is to return Senator Echocho,” the group added.
The latest development comes amid growing political consultations and alignments within Kogi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
