A crisis has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State as the Odu Ward 2 executives in Dekina Local Government Area announced the suspension of Senator Jibrin Isah, who represents Kogi East, over alleged anti-party activities.
The development was contained in a letter dated May 26 and addressed to the APC state chairman in Lokoja, where the ward leaders accused Isah, popularly known as Echocho, of engaging in actions against the party’s interests.
They also alleged that the senator failed to secure victory in his polling unit during the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections.
“It has come to the notice of the EXCO of Odu Ward 2 with dismay the protracted anti-party activities of the serving Senator representing Kogi East, distinguished Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho),” the letter reads.
“The Senator failed to deliver even his own polling unit in 2019 and 2023 Kogi State Governorship elections.
“He worked against Party’s interest in his ward, Local Government and Senatorial District in the aforementioned elections respectively.”
The ward executives further accused him of holding meetings with opposition parties, describing such actions as a violation of the APC constitution.
“The Senator has been involving himself in anti-party activities against the Constitution of APC by holding series of meetings with opposition political parties, an act unbecoming of the person of the status of his personality in the party,” they alleged.
They added that the suspension decision was reached during a meeting held on May 26.
“Therefore, the APC Party EXCO Odu Ward 2, Dekina Local Government of Kogi State arising from their meeting held on 26th of May 2027 resolved and have suspended Distinguished Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho) from APC,” the ward leaders said.
“It is our wish that this will serve as a deterrent to those bent on working against the interest of the Party.”
However, the senator’s camp rejected the suspension, describing it as baseless and lacking due process.
Mikail Ibrahim, media aide to the senator, insisted that Isah remained loyal to the party and had contributed significantly to its electoral success.
“Distinguished Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho) did not lose his polling unit in 2019,” he said.
“He won overwhelmingly and equally delivered substantial support for the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Likewise, during the 2023 gubernatorial election, Senator Echocho demonstrated unalloyed commitment to the party, delivering sizeable votes from his polling unit and across several polling units in Kogi East despite prevailing challenges and intense political pressure.”
He also highlighted the senator’s empowerment programmes and development projects across Kogi East, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security support initiatives.
Describing the suspension as “a poorly conceived social media trial”, Ibrahim urged the public to disregard it, insisting it lacked “credibility, proper procedural foundation, and moral justification”.