‎By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja

‎‎A Support Group for Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West, has rejected the endorsement of former Federal Lawmaker, Sam Aro as the consensus candidate of the All Progressive Congress for Kogi West Senatorial election.

‎‎This is also as another senatorial aspirant, Bisimilahi Tajudeen has joined his voice to reject the Aro endorsement. 

‎‎A group of APC stakeholders, who are mainly appointees of present Governor Usman Ododo had on Monday endorsed Sam Aro as a consensus candidate for Kogi West.

‎‎Reacting to the development, the Karimi 2.0 Group dismissed the communiqué issued after the Kogi West APC Stakeholders’ Strategic Alignment Meeting, describing the gathering as a congregation of self-appointed political actors seeking to undermine democracy and impose predetermined candidates on the people of Kogi West Senatorial District.

‎Karimi 2.0 Groups’ Coordinators, Danladi Suleiman and Comrade Gbenga Adekunle, who made their position known on Tuesday in a statement made available to newsmen said the communiqué was a product of desperation by individuals allegedly threatened by the growing popularity and grassroots acceptance of Senator Sunday Karimi who is seeking re-election.

‎According to the statement, “No gathering of “self-appointed stakeholders” has the constitutional or moral authority to decide the political future of Kogi West or arrogate to itself the powers reserved for party members and the electorate.

‎‎“The people of Kogi West are not political slaves to be dictated to by a few power brokers hiding under the name of stakeholders,” the statement said.

‎‎The group alleged that the meeting was held at the residence of a top official of the Kogi State Government where intimidation and threats were allegedly freely issued against perceived political opponents.

‎‎“Threats have no place in democracy. Democracy thrives on participation, consultation, competition, and the free choice of the people — not intimidation and manufactured endorsements,” the statement added.

‎The Karimi 2.0 Group maintained that the APC remains a democratic party governed by due process and constitutional procedures, insisting that no endorsement arrangement outside the party’s official processes can substitute for the will of the people.

‎Defending Senator Sunday Steve Karimi’s growing political strength in Kogi West, the group said his widespread acceptance was built on purposeful representation, visible constituency projects, empowerment programmes, educational interventions, and consistent grassroots engagement across the seven local government areas of the senatorial district.

‎‎“The acceptance of Senator Sunday Steve Karimi lives in the minds of the thousands of people who have benefitted from his purposeful representation. No amount of gang-up or scripted communiqués can erase the relationship between the Senator and the people,” the group stated.

‎The group further accused the government appointees of attempting to circumvent internal democracy through what it described as “a carefully arranged political script designed to intimidate aspirants and manipulate the political space ahead of 2027.”

‎‎”Only the people of Kogi West will determine who represents them at the Red Chambers from 2027. Political offices are not inherited through closed-door meetings or endorsements orchestrated by a handful of individuals.”

‎‎While calling on its supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, the Karimi 2.0 Group expressed confidence that the will of the people would ultimately prevail.

‎‎“We urge our members and supporters across Kogi West to remain peaceful, focused, and law-abiding. The people know those who truly stand with them, and when the time comes, their voices will be heard loud and clear,” the statement concluded.