No fewer than five names are being pushed for the vacant ministerial slot for Kogi State, following the death of Minister of State for Labour James Ocholi.

They are Senator Alex Khadiri and Senator Mohammed Dangana from Kogi East, Senator Mohammed Ohiare from Kogi Central, Hon. Clarence Olorunfemi and Chief Gbenga Ashagun from Kogi West.

Stakeholders from the state are intensifying their lobby to get their candidates selected, it was gathered.

Sources said President Muhammadu Buhari may name a replacement for Ocholi next month.

Pushing the case of each of the personalities are party leaders and people thought to have the ears of the Presidency.

Many party chieftains believe loyalty to the party should be key in picking the ministerial nominee.

However, a source familiar with the development said:”Unfortunately for the proponents of party loyalty, the President does not see political appointment as payback cheque for party loyalty.

“The President believes that competence rather than party loyalty should be the basis of critical appointments and he has always insisted that he is concerned about those who can perform in office rather than the length of stay in the party.”