Wada’s Defection: A Boost to APC’s Kogi Fortunes — Gov Ododo

By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh

Lokoja, Kogi State

November 17, 2025

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has welcomed former Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada, into the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying his defection is a significant boost to the party’s fortunes in the state.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja, Governor Ododo praised Capt. Wada’s decision to join the APC, saying it reflected their shared commitment to peace, progress, and development.

The Governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership, which he said had inspired confidence in the APC’s renewed hope agenda for national development.

Ododo in his words “The list of the decampees are endless. In Kogi State, opposition has been grounded, Kogi is APC and APC is Kogi State. My Special appreciation to Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice His Excellency Alhaji Kashim Shettima. We are here to let people know that our responsibility is to serve our people well. Today across the 21 Local Government, we are carrying out projects in all the Local Government Areas. We are constructing roads, we are building Primary healthcare and other projects. Today we are on with the Airport project. We will not mind what our critics are saying on the social media. I can’t be distracted because I have a mission to unite our people.” He said.

The Vice president, Alh Kashim Shettima appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for making the Party All Progressives Congress attractive to Nigerians. “Today is the formal reception for the former Governor Capt. Idris Wada and other Nigerians coming into APC party. What is happening in Kogi State is a marking of coalition, to our new members I say welcome. The APC will not take your course for granted.” He added.

Capt. Idris Ichala Wada noted that the reason for crossing over to APC is enormous. He revealed that APC is a progressive party highlighting that the price of fuel in the era of APC is declining everyday, the foreign exchange coming down in our favour and above all the infrastructural projects going on everywhere by the APC administration is another reason.

Capt. Wada, who served as governor from 2012 to 2016 under the PDP, lost his re-election bid in 2015. His defection is seen as a major boost to the APC, especially with President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 on the horizon.

The ceremony was attended by top political figures, party stalwarts, and supporters from across the state.