Kabba Protest Halts APC Candidate Endorsement Event

A protest rocked the palace of the Obaro of Kabba on Friday over reports of a planned endorsement meeting for the All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket for the Kogi West Senatorial District.

According to eyewitnesses, a large number of constituents mobilized to the palace after word spread that traditional rulers had assembled on the instruction of state authorities to endorse a candidate who, they alleged, did not take part in the primary election of the party.

Videos and accounts from the scene showed youths and party supporters chanting and blocking entry to the palace to prevent the meeting from going ahead. Security personnel were later called in to control the crowd and maintain order.

The protesters said that any endorsement outside the process recognized by the APC constitution would undermine party unity and disenfranchise members who participated in the primaries.

The angry members said the meeting was called to present another aspirant for royal endorsement even though the aspirant did not participate in the APC primary. They insisted on the need to respect the mandate of the party’s members, and on the neutrality of traditional institutions in partisan contests.

At the time of filing this report, no official endorsement was announced from the palace while the Obaro’s office has not come out with a statement.

The Kogi West Senate seat is one of the most fiercely contested positions in the state, with many aspirants fighting for the APC ticket ahead of the next election cycle. Other candidates including Senator Smart Adeyemi, Hon. Sam Aro, Dr Tajudeen Bisimilahi among others reportedly withdrew from the race ahead of the May 18th, 2026 APC senatorial primaries with Sen Karimi Sunday emerging victorious at the Primary.

The district covers seven local government areas – Lokoja, Kogi/Koton Karfe, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro and party stakeholders have repeatedly called for a transparent selection process.

State officials have not commented on the allegations. Attempts to get reaction from the APC Kogi State Secretariat were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.

Some party members at the protest said they were not against royal counsel but insisted traditional rulers should not be used to ratify outcomes that bypass internal party democracy. Others called for dialogue to prevent a wider rift in the Kogi West APC.

Security intervention left the situation at the Obaro’s palace tense but calm. District party leaders are expected to meet to address the grievances and clarify the status of the Senate ticket.