A civil society organisation, the Kogi East Political and Economic Summit Group, has declared support for Senator Jibril Isa Echocho amid growing controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Convener of the group, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, described criticisms and allegations against the senator as politically motivated attempts aimed at weakening his influence within Kogi East and the APC.
Jacob alleged that some interests within the Kogi State political structure were behind campaigns against the lawmaker, insisting that Senator Echocho had delivered several developmental projects across the district, including health facilities, school buildings, roads, boreholes and agricultural support programmes.
According to the group, the senator’s interventions had improved the image of the APC in Kogi East and increased his acceptance among constituents. “The best the APC can do for Kogi East is to return Senator Echocho,” Jacob said during the briefing.
The organisation also argued that Echocho’s ranking position and committee responsibilities in the National Assembly had helped attract federal projects and opportunities to Kogi East. It rejected calls for the senatorial seat to be rotated away from the district, saying Kogi East remained politically underrepresented at the state level.
The group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership to ensure fairness and transparency in the final determination of the party’s senatorial primary outcome, as political consultations continue ahead of the 2027 general elections.
