By Suleiman Abdulmumin
The Ajaokuta Stakeholders Meeting, held on Sunday, 23 November 2025, was convened by the Hon. Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye. The gathering brought together party leaders, political stakeholders, and key actors across the local government area.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Abanika stated that the engagement aligns with the directive of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, mandating all local government areas to begin the process of selecting councillorship candidates who will represent their wards. He emphasized that the Governor’s instruction aims to ensure a democratic, transparent, and people-driven process devoid of imposition.
The Commissioner explained that the ongoing nomination exercise forms part of the preparations for the forthcoming Kogi State Local Government Elections as scheduled by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). As the ruling party, the APC must strictly comply with the SIEC timetable to guarantee a smooth, credible, and timely process.
Hon. Abanika expressed gratitude to the Governor, the political leader of Ajaokuta and Member representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, as well as other party leaders for their unwavering support for the APC-led government. He urged party faithful to sustain their commitment in order to ensure continuity and the delivery of more dividends of democracy to the people.
Reiterating the goal of deepening grassroots democracy, he charged ward leaders to return to their various wards for broad consultation before submitting their nominees.
Stakeholders at the meeting commended Governor Ododo for strengthening democratic practices at the grassroots, noting that credible internal party processes naturally translate into better outcomes during general elections.
The meeting had in attendance the Ajaokuta Local Government Chairman and Vice Chairman; the Member representing Ajaokuta State Constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Jibril Abu II; former Commissioner for Health, Hon. Dr. Saka Haruna Audu; former House of Assembly member and Commissioner for Works, Hon. Samson Bako; the Auditor of the Kogi State Rural Electrification Agency, Hon. Rajiv Ishaq; former Chairman and now Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Hon. Mustapha Akaba; Hon. Abdulraheem Salami Okekenu, Commissioner, Local Government Commission; the representative of former House of Representatives member Alhaji Lawal; Hon. Balogun Bello, and other notable party leaders and appointees.