It is no longer news that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised the curtain for the conduct of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.
The Commission, late last year, announced March and April this year as the period for the conduct of party primaries for the off-season election.
Interestingly, the suspense and intrigues surrounding who will hold the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi State and that of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), for the November 22nd Kogi State Governorship election has continued to cause sleepless night for many political calculators and pundits.
Many are already asking if power will remain in the Central Senatorial district or shift to Kogi West after the Eastern Senatorial district has ruled the State for 16 years.
A major problem starring the APC in the face is the court judgement which nullified its list for the scheduled governorship primary election.
It was reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday nullified and set aside the Ward and Local Government congresses the APC purportedly conducted on February 7 to nominate its candidate for the November governorship election.
The court voided the two congresses because they were not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the APC.
Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by a group of aggrieved APC members led by Realwan Okpanachi, Justice James Omotosho barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from using the unlawful delegates list that emanated from unlawful congresses for the party to select its governorship flagbearer.
The development is said to have been received with shock by the party hierarchy and has created anxiety in the State.
It is left to be seen whether it would go ahead with the primary election scheduled for this weekend
