Kogi West: Karimi rejects court judgement, vows to go on with campaigns

Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has declared that he remains undeterred as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in the legal dispute over his candidacy.

The senator said this in a strongly worded response issued in response to the judgment in the suit instituted by Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, who challenged his emergence as the APC flag bearer for Kogi West senatorial district.

Karimi expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, arguing that it was inconsistent with the evidence presented and departed from the judge’s previous positions in similar pre-election matters, particularly regarding limitation of time and the authority responsible for conducting party primaries and declaring their outcomes.

Maintaining his position, the senator alleged that his challenger did not participate in the APC primary election and questioned the authenticity of documents reportedly submitted in support of the challenge. He, however, emphasised that the Nigerian legal system provides an avenue for appeal and vowed to pursue all available legal remedies.

Taking a political dimension to the development, Karimi accused unnamed power brokers in Kogi State of orchestrating what he described as a campaign of political persecution against him, allegedly motivated by his outspoken position on the management of the state’s resources.

Despite the legal challenge, the lawmaker insisted that his political structure remains intact, promising to intensify his mobilisation and campaign activities with renewed determination and vigour.

Reaffirming his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Karimi described himself as the President’s foremost supporter in Kogi State, while accusing his detractors of undermining the party’s interests.

He urged his supporters to remain calm, courageous and steadfast, assuring them that the legal battle would not derail their collective aspiration for purposeful representation and good governance.

With the 2027 elections approaching, Karimi’s declaration signals his determination to sustain his political ambition while pursuing judicial redress, setting the stage for another consequential chapter in the unfolding political contest for Kogi West.