On October 20, 2023, the CDD War Room received a claim via the Check by Meedan App from a Facebook user. The claim says Fatima Suleiman, the gubernatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the only female candidate for the Kogi gubernatorial election, has stepped down and collapsed her structure for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Claim:
ZLP gubernatorial candidate steps down for APC in Kogi
ALL WE KNOW:
On June 6, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of eligible candidates and their political parties for the November 11 gubernatorial election. In Kogi state, INEC released the names of 18 political parties and their candidates. Among the candidates whose names were published was Fatima Suleiman of the ZLP.
The CDD War Room found that in July 2023, Fatima Suleiman of the ZLP granted an interview where she dismissed the allegation that she might step down for any of the gubernatorial candidates.
We found another interview, dated August 1, 2023, where she revealed that she had stepped down for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ahmed Ododo, to continue the good work of the present administration. According to the interview, she was referred to as the former candidate of the ZLP, and she maintained that “after evaluating other candidates jostling for the governorship, Ododo appeared as the only candidate with the capacity to change the fortunes of Kogi for good.”
We found a report of a press conference where Fatima Suleiman, alongside four other gubernatorial candidates in the state, declared their support for Ahmed Ododo of the APC.
The five political parties under the aegis of United Progressive Political Parties in the State and their governorship candidates announced the endorsement of the candidature of the All Progressive Congress (APC) flag bearer, Ahmed Ododo.
The political parties and their candidates are APP – Onaji Sunday, ADP Chairman Prince Yahaya Mamam, Boot – Muhammad Umar, NRM – Bala Abdulkadir Dirisu, and ZLP – Fatima Suleiman.
On September 15, 2023, the CDD War Room, during the pre-assessment visit to Kogi state ahead of the gubernatorial election, met with the ZLP candidate. While answering questions, she maintained that she remains the candidate of the ZLP and has no intention to step down for any candidate.