A crisis is presently rocking the Kogi state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the delegates’ election which was held last Saturday.
Recalled that the party suspended the three ad-hoc delegate congresses scheduled across the 239 wards of Kogi State due to irregularities.
The decision was communicated through a letter dated July 27, 2024, and signed by Senator Laah Dajuma, Chairman of the party’s caretaker committee.
However, in a swift reaction, some caretaker committee members of the party in the state have thrown their weight behind the outcome of the ad-hoc delegates’ election held on Saturday across the state.
The spokesperson of the members, Honourable Sunday Shigaba, while addressing the press in Lokoja, said, the election conducted by the congress committee was adjudged to be free, fair and credible and had met the requirements laid down by the party.
The spokesperson who was a former Deputy Majority leader of the state House of Assembly and a current member of the caretaker committee of PDP in the state said, contrary to reservations by some party members, the election took place across the 239 wards without noticeable hitches.
He mentioned the names of some committee members who jointly signed the press release with him as the caretaker committee, and financial secretary to include: Hon. Sheidu Ovurevu Abara, Treasurer, Hon. Audu Idris, Asst. Financial Secretary; Hon. Ade Tola, Asst. Secretary and Hon. Joshua Adejoh, as Caretaker committee Youth leader.
He explained that the congress for the election of 3 ad-hoc delegates per ward was a national working committee assignment as empowered by the constitution of their great party.
He added that neither the technical committee nor the substantive state executive committee cannot interfere with the exercise in any form except as observers.
According to him, the congress committee arrived and reported to the state party secretariat in Lokoja and as usual resolved with the caretaker members headed by the chairman and secretary respectively that they were prepared to organise a clean, fair and credible congress.
He said following this commitment, they moved to the field for the important assignment, hinting that there was no time the caretakers resolved to stop the exercise especially as it does not fall within the purview of their schedule of duty.
“To the best of our knowledge, as we witnessed in our various LGAs, the exercise was conducted under the open view of the relevant electoral institutions. And winners validly emerged as delegates.
“We, therefore, dissociate ourselves from the purported claim of some members of the caretaker committee who want to undermine the will of the overwhelming majority members of our party.
“As PDP members and critical stakeholders, who were part of the process, we want to state clearly that the exercise was peaceful, hitch-free and should be upheld.”
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