By Danjuma Amodu
The Kogi State APC government next week begins a grand presentation tour of its Kogi East Senatorial candidate, Chief Dr. Joseph Erico Ameh, to the Igala and Bassa nations, as the contest for the district’s Senate seat firms up ahead of 2027.
The presentation will commence at the Palace of the Attah Igala and proceed through Ofu and Olamaboro to Etutekpe. The specific date will be announced in due course. The event is expected to draw Etutekpe Development Association (EDA) members, stakeholders and political leaders from across Kogi East and beyond.
THE CANDIDATE AND THE MANDATE
Dr. Erico, a security expert and businessman, emerged as the APC candidate after a landslide victory in the May 2026 primary, polling 73,317 votes and winning across all nine local government areas of Kogi East.
He is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Real Strikers Security Services Ltd, with a workforce of over 9,000 nationwide. Trained in Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and the United States, he holds a BA in English, an MSc in Business Administration and an Associate Professorship in Liberal and Criminology Studies.
Widely known for philanthropy, Erico has provided boreholes in Okpo and other communities, funded scholarships, extended financial support to traditional rulers and supported widows and orphans across Kogi East. He is also alleged to have assisted in paying salaries of PDP executives across the 21 LGAs and supported 25 PDP House of Assembly aspirants in previous elections.
THE MAJOR CONTESTANTS
The race has drawn prominent figures across the major parties.
APC – Dr. Joseph Ameh Erico: Secured the ticket with a landslide and enjoys the backing of the state government and party structures.
PDP – Muhammad Abdullahi (“Elephant”): A real estate developer and seasoned politician campaigning on quality representation and grassroots development.
SDP – Idris Hussein Kashim (Idrisima): A philanthropist and grassroots mobiliser with strong support in Dekina and Bassa.
ADC – QS Suleiman Abubakar Aminu: A technocrat pushing fresh debate on development and effective representation.
NDC – High Chief Peter Ameh: A veteran political figure, former National Chairman of IPAC, former House of Representatives contestant and one-time presidential candidate.
WHY ERICO HOLDS THE EDGE
With Kogi State firmly in APC control, Erico enters the contest with the advantage of incumbency at state level. The alignment between the state government, party structure and his candidacy gives the APC a formidable mobilisation platform across the nine LGAs.
His landslide primary win, in which he swept even traditional strongholds of other contenders, is being read by stakeholders as an early sign of cross-district acceptability. Combined with his background in security and job creation, analysts say this positions him as the candidate most suited to the district’s immediate priorities of tackling kidnapping and youth unemployment.
EQUITY AND THE ROTATION ARGUMENT
The presentation tour comes amid renewed debate on rotation in Kogi East, the state’s largest senatorial district with nine LGAs and 51 per cent of the state’s voters.
Since 1999, the Senate seat has rotated mainly between two federal constituencies. Dekina/Bassa has held it for about 18 years. Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro has had eight years. Idah/Igalamela/Ofu had the briefest stint, cut short by court judgements.
Stakeholders argue that ordinarily the slot favours Idah Federal Constituency. However, with Idah currently holding the Deputy Govern orship and a ministerial position, and Dekina having the longest run in the Senate, equity demands that Ankpa Federal Constituency, Erico’s base, be allowed the seat this time to balance the power equation in Kogi East.
As one APC chieftain put it: “Dekina has gone to Senate for about 20 years already. They should also be their brother’s keeper by supporting Ankpa Federal Constituency to get the Senate seat for now.”
Erico’s campaign is anchored on tackling insecurity, leveraging his private sector network for jobs, and strengthening community policing across Kogi East. He has also canvassed youth support, citing the link between unemployment and irregular migration.
The election is expected to be keenly contested, but with the APC controlling the governorship and state apparatus, Erico’s candidacy starts from a position of structural advantage. The final outcome, however, will depend on how well the opposition consolidates and how voters weigh rotation against party loyalty
