Lokoja, April 10, 2025 — The Kogi State chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, accusing his administration of sidelining opposition parties and reneging on his promise of inclusive governance.
In a statement issued to journalists in Lokoja, IPAC Chairman Hon. Iliyas Badanga condemned what he described as the Governor’s neglect of opposition voices, despite their support for his candidacy during the last governorship election.
“Governor Ododo is not practicing an inclusive leadership style in his administration as he promised,” Badanga declared. “It was on the tripod of inclusive leadership that we built our common understanding to ensure a peaceful political environment.”
Badanga lamented that since Governor Ododo assumed office, opposition political parties in the state have been marginalized and ignored in critical governance processes, a move he believes undermines the democratic ethos.
“IPAC has observed with dismay that recognition is being given to those creating political unrest while parties that contributed to peace and stability are left in the shadows,” he said.
The IPAC chairman emphasized that their support for Ododo was based on his pledge to adopt a governance style reflective of the inclusive leadership demonstrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, wishes to alert all Kogites to the political shenanigans currently unfolding. Opposition parties are not being treated fairly, despite standing firmly with the APC throughout the contentious governorship election that brought Alhaji Ododo to power.”
Badanga also warned that IPAC’s willingness to cooperate with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should not be mistaken for weakness or complacency.
“Our loyalty should not be misconstrued as cowardice. It is rooted in a shared vision of building a Kogi where even a political outsider can rise to leadership based on competence and merit,” he asserted.
He urged Governor Ododo to reconsider his current approach and uphold the principles of unity and inclusivity that were the foundation of the political alliance that brought him to power.
“Your desire to build a Kogi devoid of political divisions is commendable, but it must not come at the expense of those who believed in your vision and stood with you,” he concluded.
The statement from IPAC comes amid rising concerns from civil society groups and political actors who have been calling for a more participatory governance style in Kogi State, especially in light of Nigeria’s broader democratic goals.
