By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — A civil society organisation, the Kogi East Political and Economic Summit Group, has urged the All Progressives Congress, APC, to return Senator Jibril Isa Echocho to the Senate in 2027 amid growing tension over the party’s senatorial ticket in Kogi East.

The position comes as political activity within the APC in Kogi State intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections, with different interests jostling over the party’s ticket in the district.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Convener of the group, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, accused unnamed political interests of sponsoring campaigns against the senator over the APC primary process.

“The best the APC can do for us in Kogi East is to return Senator Echocho,” the group said.

Jacob alleged that some of the attacks against the senator were being driven by interests within the corridors of power in the state seeking to influence the APC’s internal selection process for the 2027 election.

“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 said the senator had facilitated projects across communities in the district, including hospitals, school buildings, boreholes, road projects and agricultural support programmes.

“Anybody who says Senator Jibril Isa has not done anything should go and verify these projects in the constituency,” they said.

The organisation also opposed calls for the Kogi East senatorial seat to be rotated away from the district, arguing that the area remained politically disadvantaged despite its population size and the fact that it had yet to produce a governor.

According to the group, Echocho’s position in the National Assembly and his committee roles had helped attract federal appointments and opportunities to the district.

The group also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaders of the APC to ensure fairness and transparency in the party’s candidate selection process for the senatorial seat.