Senator Sunday Karimi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election, has accused political leaders in Kogi State of using the courts to persecute him over his criticism of the management of the state’s resources.
Karimi made the allegation on Wednesday while reacting to a Federal High Court judgment against his candidacy in a suit instituted by Samuel Bamidele Aro, who challenged his emergence as the APC’s candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The senator, who currently represents Kogi West in the National Assembly, described the judgment as contrary to the evidence presented before the court, alleging that the trial judge departed from previous decisions on similar pre-election disputes.
In a statement personally signed by him, Karimi alleged that the legal challenge was part of a sustained effort by unnamed political leaders in the state to silence him for speaking out against what he described as their grip on Kogi State’s resources.
“I wish to state that this incident is the handiwork of the state’s rulers, who have been desperate and relentless in their efforts to persecute me and protect their grip on Kogi State’s resources—an issue I have spoken out against,” he said.
He also questioned the basis of the judgment, claiming that the trial judge had previously delivered at least three rulings on similar issues involving the statute of limitations in pre-election cases and the authority responsible for conducting party primaries and determining their winners.
“It is clear that the judgment runs contrary to the evidence before the court. It is also unfortunate that the trial judge departed from his own previous rulings, having decided at least three similar cases on the statute of limitations in pre-election proceedings and the proper authority to conduct party primaries and determine their winners,” he said.
Karimi further accused Aro of not participating in the APC primary election but allegedly submitting fabricated documents to support his challenge.
“The people of Kogi West, the entire state, and even Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro know that he did not participate in the primary election, yet submitted fabricated documents to support a false claim,” he alleged.
The senator, however, vowed to challenge the judgment, saying he would exercise his constitutional right of appeal and pursue legal redress.
Despite the ruling, Karimi insisted that his campaign for the 2027 general election would continue, declaring that he remained the APC’s flag bearer in Kogi West.
“I remain strong and undeterred, and my campaign continues with renewed zeal and vigour. My detractors do not love our party or Mr President. I remain Mr President’s number-one supporter in Kogi State,” he stated.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and steadfast, describing the legal battle as one of the challenges he would overcome in his quest for what he called good governance.
The Federal High Court judgment followed a suit filed by Aro challenging Karimi’s emergence as the APC candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District.
