By Christopher Sunday
Every nation reaches a moment when history asks a difficult but necessary question: Will you choose balance over bias? Merit over monopoly? Justice over sentiment? At such turning points, greatness is not measured by political noise or regional entitlement—but by the courage to act wisely, inclusively, and strategically. As Nigeria journeys towards another pivotal election in 2027, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) must again make a decision—not just about winning power, but about preserving national equilibrium.
The 2027 elections will not be an ordinary contest. The terrain is rough: the opposition is regrouping, the political base is shifting, and the national mood is weary. To confront this without deliberate strategy would be dangerous. And to confront it without inclusion would be fatal. The APC must not only plan to win—it must position to unite. That begins by ensuring that the North Central zone—a region that has remained the quiet stabilizer in Nigeria’s volatile political landscape—is fully integrated into the power structure of the party.
Within the North Central, one state continues to stand tall for its unwavering loyalty to the APC: Kogi State.
This is a state that has been a fortress for the APC, through storms and successes. Yet, ironically, Kogi remains the least recognized in the national power equation under the current administration. Other North Central states have seen significant federal appointments:
Kwara State has no fewer than five top-tier appointments, including Bashir Bayo Ojulari as GCEO of NNPC, Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe as Chairman of NHIA, and Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun as a TETFund Board Member, among others.
Benue produced Cosmas Akiyir, Chairman of the newly established North-Central Development Commission (NCDC).
Plateau has Cyril Yeltsin Tsenyil as Managing Director of the NCDC.
Nasarawa boasts Silas Agara as DG of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
Even Kogi has just one strategic appointment—Tosin Adeyanju as Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).
But a deeper look reveals something more troubling: Kogi remains the only North Central state without a significant policy-shaping or cabinet-level figure. While others are represented in commissions, boards, or major ministries, Kogi is underrepresented despite its consistency in delivering victory to the APC. This imbalance must be addressed—and the opportunity to correct it is now.
Zoning the APC National Chairmanship to Kogi State is not a political favour. It is a strategic imperative and a long-overdue act of justice.
Kogi is the political heartbeat of the North Central. It connects North and South in geography, culture, and electoral behavior. It embodies Nigeria’s religious and ethnic diversity. It is both a battleground and a bellwether. To entrust Kogi with the chairmanship of the ruling party would be a move not just of reward, but of reconciliation and realignment.
And in Kogi’s recent political history, no figure has represented resilience, loyalty, and results like Alhaji Yahaya Bello, OON—the immediate past Governor. Here is a man who did not just support the APC from the sidelines. He built it, defended it, and led it, even when it was unpopular to do so. He stood firm during national crises, challenged policies that threatened the party’s electoral chances, and mobilized youths, women, and marginalized groups across the country.
He is not a novice to national politics. He understands the terrain. He has walked it. He has been a bridge between generations, regions, and ideologies. His voice carries weight among the grassroots and the elite alike.
Yahaya Bello’s emergence as APC National Chairman would send a powerful message across the North Central and the federation: that loyalty is noticed, that justice is possible, and that inclusion is not a cliché but a commitment.
Let us be clear: 2027 will not be won by propaganda or complacency. The opposition is studying the gaps. They will exploit internal exclusion if we allow it. But the APC has a chance now to reposition itself—to honor its faithful, to strengthen its base, and to unify its structure.
It is North Central’s turn. It is Kogi’s time. And Yahaya Bello is the answer.
Let the party choose wisely. Let justice not be postponed.
Christopher Sunday
Writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
Political philosopher and public affairs analyst
