Kogi East stakeholders endorse Echocho, push for stronger national representation

By Ugbede James Ankpa

The third-term ambition of the Senator representing Kogi East, Sen. Jibrin Isa Echocho, has received a major boost following his endorsement by a coalition of concerned civil society organisations from the district.
The coalition, operating under the banner of the Kogi East Political and Economic Summit Group (KEPESG), announced its support for Echocho during a world press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, the convener of KEPESG, Comrade Jacob Okpananchi, explained that the endorsement followed extensive consultations and a thorough evaluation of the political realities in Kogi East.
Okpananchi stated that the group carefully assessed the performance and activities of the incumbent senator before arriving at the decision to back his third-term bid.
He emphasised that the endorsement was not made arbitrarily but was the outcome of deep reflection on both historical and current political developments affecting the district.
According to him, Kogi East consistently produced the state governor until 2015, but since the shift of power to Kogi Central, the zone has witnessed a decline in political influence.
He noted that this situation underscored the urgent need to consolidate and strengthen the district’s representation at the national level, which informed their support for Echocho.
Okpananchi expressed optimism that re-electing the senator would enhance the chances of securing key leadership positions in the National Assembly, thereby amplifying the voice and bargaining power of Kogi East constituents.
He added that such a move would help bridge the power gap created by the district’s absence from the governorship since 2015 and strengthen its presence at the federal level, ultimately addressing the political and developmental challenges faced by the people.
He further called on the people of Kogi East to reject what he described as entrenched politics of surrogacy that have reduced the district’s influence over the years.
“This endorsement also serves as a clarion call to our people to resist the entrenched politics of surrogacy that has relegated our district to a secondary role since 2015. We must reject any attempt to impose candidates who do not reflect the collective aspirations and political values of our people,” he said.