Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has assured traditional leaders and residents of Kabba and the wider Owe community that their support for his administration will not be taken for granted.

The governor gave the assurance on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, when members of the Kabba Community Council of Chiefs, representing the 14 families of the Owe Kabba Kingdom, paid a solidarity and appreciation visit to him at the Government House in Lokoja.

The meeting also saw the traditional leaders reaffirm their support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ododo thanked the chiefs for the confidence they had shown in his administration, noting that their early support placed an additional responsibility on the government to justify the trust through meaningful development.

He said the projects being executed in the area should not be viewed as special favours but as part of the government's responsibility to provide infrastructure and services that meet the needs of the people.

The governor also acknowledged the public support previously expressed by the Obaro of Kabba and other traditional rulers for his administration and the APC.

Responding to concerns raised by the traditional leaders, Ododo directed that the Obaro of Kabba’s Palace should be considered for remodelling and redevelopment.

He asked the traditional and community leaders to provide input on the required scope of work, noting that his administration had undertaken interventions involving traditional institutions in other parts of the state.

The governor also promised that attention would be given to the road leading to the palace, alongside other roads and projects contained in the government's development plans.

He further said work was progressing on initiatives in the water sector and assured the delegation that their concerns would receive attention.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, High Chief Alegbemi Michael commended the Ododo administration for what he described as visible development across infrastructure, healthcare, education and water supply.

He mentioned the remodelling of the Kabba Local Government Secretariat, the Kabba Township Water Project, healthcare improvements and ongoing work at Kogi State University, Kabba, among other projects.

There is independent evidence of continuing government investment in KSU Kabba. In June 2026, the Kogi State Government reported ongoing construction and development of an ultra-modern Senate Building, Faculty of Science Complex and male and female student hostels at the institution.

The state government has also identified the Zonal Hospital, Kabba, among secondary healthcare facilities assessed for rehabilitation and upgrading under its healthcare reform programme.

Alegbemi declared the community's political support for the APC, saying Kabba would back the party from the presidential level through the local government.

He also appealed to the governor to address some roads within the community that require reconstruction or rehabilitation.

The Executive Chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Zacchaeus Dare Michael, described the gathering as significant, claiming that the 14-family Council of Chiefs had not assembled in such a manner for more than two decades.

He highlighted investments and projects in education, erosion control, primary healthcare, markets and the remodelling of the local government secretariat as areas where the administration had made an impact.

Former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, also expressed support for the governor, saying residents of Kabba had seen what he described as evidence of the administration's commitment to the area.

Similarly, Bode Adeyemi, chairman of the Forum of Special Advisers to the Governor, recalled the community's support for Ododo during the 2023 governorship election and said the administration had responded with development projects across Owe land.

The delegation subsequently pledged to mobilise support for the re-election of Tinubu and Ododo in 2027, linking its position to what its members described as the administration's development record.

The political endorsement comes amid a broader push by APC stakeholders in Kogi West to consolidate support for Tinubu and Ododo ahead of the 2027 elections. In August 2026, the Owe Common Front also reaffirmed its commitment to the APC while calling for greater unity and development within the Owe community.

For the Ododo administration, the engagement with the Kabba traditional council provides another opportunity to strengthen its relationship with community leaders while addressing demands for infrastructure, healthcare, education, water and improved roads in the area.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia