2027: Fatosa Challenges Teejay Yusuf to Publish 12-Year Legislative Record Ahead of Kogi West Senate Race

The 2027 Kogi West senatorial contest is already taking shape as the campaign organisation of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Muyiwa Fatosa challenges former lawmaker Teejay Yusuf to publicly account for his 12 years in the National Assembly.

The Fatosa campaign made the demand in a statement on Sunday while responding to comments reportedly issued by Yusuf’s media team. It stressed that Fatosa neither authored nor authorised the article that triggered the exchange, but said the response provided an opportunity to put the focus on issues that matter to voters.

A major point of disagreement is the interpretation of political rotation in Kogi West. The Fatosa camp argued that the district’s political balance should be considered across three broad areas — Lokoja/Koton Karfe, Kabba/Ijumu and Yagba — rather than by counting individual local government areas.

The campaign also rejected the argument that previous candidates from particular areas should automatically be regarded as having represented those areas. “Contesting an election is not the same as occupying a seat. Aspiration cannot be counted as representation,” it said.

Fatosa’s team then turned its attention to Yusuf’s record in the National Assembly. It noted that Yusuf spent 12 years in the House of Representatives and served as Chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions during the Eighth Assembly, arguing that voters should be able to assess what tangible results came from that period of service.

“Winning elections three times demonstrates electoral success. The question is what legislative achievements should be associated with that period of service,” the campaign said.

It called on Yusuf to present details of his legislative interventions, federal projects, infrastructure initiatives and economic opportunities linked to his time in parliament. The group said Fatosa would, in turn, present his own credentials, political vision and programme for Kogi West.

The campaign also dismissed questions about Fatosa’s political visibility, saying elections should give voters a choice between competing candidates and policy ideas. It called for an open debate on insecurity, unemployment, agriculture, infrastructure, education and healthcare across the senatorial district.

“Let Hon. Teejay Yusuf present his 12-year National Assembly record. Let Muyiwa Fatosa present his credentials, vision and programme. Then let the people decide,” the statement concluded.