Senator Sunday Karimi chairs the Senate Services Committee. He’s the All Progressives Congress candidate for Kogi West in the 2027 election, and he’s now accusing political leaders in the state of dragging him through the courts to punish him for criticizing how they handle public funds.
He leveled the charge on Wednesday after a Federal High Court ruled against his candidacy. The suit came from Samuel Bamidele Aro, who contested Karimi’s emergence as the APC pick.
The senator, who still represents Kogi West in the National Assembly, called the judgment out of step with the evidence that was presented. He claims the judge broke from his own earlier decisions in similar pre-election cases.
In a statement he signed himself, Karimi said the legal action forms part of a deliberate campaign by certain unnamed leaders to muzzle him. He’s been outspoken about their control over the 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 took issue with the reasoning behind the ruling. According to him, the same judge has already issued at least three decisions on nearly identical points, covering the statute of limitations in pre-election matters and which body holds the power to run party primaries and declare 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 went further, claiming Aro never joined the APC primary yet still filed documents that were cooked up to support the 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.
Even so, the senator says he will appeal the decision and press his constitutional rights in court. The ruling changes nothing for him. His campaign for 2027 rolls on, and he still considers himself the APC standard 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.
