By Safiyat Muhammed
Lokoja, Kogi State – A prominent supporter of Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the 2023 Kogi State governorship election, has described the party’s loss as a “blessing in disguise” for the Igala people.
Mr. Idenyi Itanyi Julius, a well-known political advocate of the SDP flagbearer, expressed this sentiment in a reflective Facebook post recently obtained by The Bureau Newspaper.
In his words, “Muri not winning the last election was a big blessing to IGALA land. Looking at the characters of some people who were around him. Their plans and intent was not pure. God denied us that opportunity for us to have a genuine reflection of ourselves.”
The post has sparked reactions online, especially among SDP loyalists and political observers who previously viewed the party’s campaign as a major movement for Igala political resurgence.
Mr. Idenyi’s statement appears to reflect growing disillusionment among some core supporters of the Ajaka-led campaign, raising questions about internal dynamics within the team and the motives of certain actors around the former candidate.
While Murtala Ajaka himself has not publicly commented on the statement, the post has triggered renewed debate about the future of Igala political leadership and the lessons learned from the 2023 electoral experience.
Ajaka, who ran a high-profile and controversial campaign against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ultimately lost to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in a tightly contested election that polarized the state along ethnic and political lines.
Political analysts believe that Julius’ remarks may signal a shift in narrative among former SDP allies, as the region continues to deal with the outcome of the election and the way forward for inclusive governance and ethnic unity in Kogi State.
