“We’re Not Hungry, We’re United” Ododo declares
In what many are calling a political tsunami, thousands of opposition party members in Kogi West Senatorial District on Saturday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a show of strength that may redefine the state’s 2027 political landscape.
The massive defection rally, held at the Itedo Makutu Open Space in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area, had the markings of a grand political endorsement—complete with party flags, cultural displays, and loud chants of victory.
The event was headlined by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who boldly declared that the people of Kogi State are “not hungry, not angry, but united under the APC.”
“Let it be known across Nigeria—Kogi State is not hungry. We are not angry. We are grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we are fully aligned with his Renewed Hope agenda,” Governor Ododo announced to a roaring crowd.
In a clear show of loyalty to the President, Ododo stated that Kogi would continue to stand as a stronghold for the APC, even as critics around the country voice frustrations over economic hardship.
“We are not among those crying hunger. In Kogi, we are working. We are progressing. And we are ready for 2027,” he added.
Ododo praised his predecessor, former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, for laying the foundation that has kept the APC dominant in the state. He promised to sustain that legacy and tackle local security concerns, warning traditional leaders and community members to reject any alliance with criminal elements.
Also addressing the gathering, Yahaya Bello said Kogi was fast becoming a one-party state—not by imposition, but by conviction and public trust.
“This is not about forcing people. It’s about a party delivering on its promises. The people are returning home. The APC is home,” he said. “Even though President Tinubu believes in multiparty democracy, Kogi will naturally evolve into a one-party state because our people know where progress lies.”
The Acting APC National Chairman, Alhaji Bukar Dalori, represented by Mazu Bawa Rijau, formally received the defectors and presented them with the party flag, describing the moment as “a testament to APC’s enduring appeal and performance.”
The defectors include high-profile political figures: Chief Samuel Bamidele Aro, former Member of the House of Representatives
Chief Tolorunju Faniyi, former federal lawmaker
Hon. Salawudeen Ganiyu Erukutu, former Chairman of Yagba East LGA
Commodore Folusho Daniel (rtd.), among other grassroots mobilisers and youth leaders.
The mass defection is being seen as a major political win for Governor Ododo’s administration, barely seven months into office, and a clear signal of the APC’s tightening grip on the political future of Kogi State.
Political observers say with this wave of defections, the opposition in Kogi West is now severely weakened, and the APC is poised to dominate not just local politics but also shape the narrative heading into the 2027 general elections.