***Party chieftains question criteria as former minister, founding member is omitted
By Comrade Ojonugwa Attai Ayinoko
The exclusion of former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Kogi State has triggered questions over the party’s commitment to inclusiveness and recognition of loyal members.
Ocheni’s omission from the council list announced on Saturday has reportedly unsettled some party stakeholders, who are demanding an explanation for his absence from the body responsible for mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The controversy centres on claims that former ministers, serving and former senators who remain APC members are automatically entitled to membership of their respective state campaign councils under the party’s guidelines.
Party chieftains questioning the decision argue that Ocheni’s political standing and service to the party make his exclusion difficult to understand.
They also contend that Kogi State has produced relatively few ministers under APC-led federal administrations since 2015, making the omission of a former cabinet member particularly noteworthy.
A party chieftain, who spoke anonymously, questioned the rationale for excluding a prominent member from a council expected to coordinate mobilisation for the party’s presidential candidate.
“When you deny a man participation in his own party affairs, especially at the level of a presidential campaign council, you owe the party an explanation,” the chieftain said.
Ocheni served as a minister under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and is described by his supporters as one of the founding members of the APC in Kogi State.
His supporters maintain that he contributed to building the party and has remained loyal since its formation, without defecting to another political platform.
They also argue that his experience and previous service at the federal level could be useful to the party’s campaign machinery.
The development has prompted calls on the APC leadership in Kogi and at the national level to review the composition of the council and clarify the criteria used in selecting its members.
Another party elder said the issue went beyond Ocheni’s personal interests, warning that the exclusion of long-standing members could create resentment within the party.
“This is not just about Professor Ocheni as an individual. It is about the message we are sending to party members that you can give your all and still be left out,” the elder said.
However, the circumstances surrounding Ocheni’s omission and whether the party leadership deliberately excluded him have not been independently established.
For the APC, the controversy presents a test of its ability to manage internal expectations and maintain cohesion as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.
Stakeholders argue that recognising experienced party members and addressing grievances could help strengthen mobilisation efforts in Kogi State.
The party leadership has been urged to explain the basis for the council’s composition and resolve the matter to prevent the disagreement from deepening divisions within its ranks.
Comrade Ojonugwa Attai Ayinoko writes from Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State.
