The turmoil within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State escalated this week, as 18 of the 21 Local Government Council Chairmen united in a call for the removal of the Caretaker Committee led by Senator Danjuma.
A petition, signed by the disgruntled Chairmen and shared with DAILY POST on Thursday in Abuja, revealed that the group, spearheaded by Abejirin Olajide Johnson, decided it was time to revamp the party’s structure in Kogi for future progress.
Dated July 29, 2024, and addressed to National Chairman Umar Damagum, the petition expressed a lack of confidence in the Caretaker Committee due to actions deemed detrimental to the PDP’s development in the state.
The Chairmen argued that the recent Ad-hoc Delegates Congress was conducted smoothly and adhered to the party’s constitution, contradicting claims made by the Caretaker Chairman and Secretary.
They urged for the Committee’s dissolution to prevent the party from further decline, emphasizing the impending political activities leading up to the next election and the necessity for the opposition to realign itself for the upcoming challenges.
The petitioners stated, “As key participants in the recent Ad-hoc Delegates Congress held on July 27, 2024, we assert without reservation that the event Successfully elected three Ad-hoc Delegates from each of the 239 Electoral Wards across the 21 Local Government Areas in Kogi State was conducted peacefully, fairly, and transparently. It Occurred without any incidents of suppression, malpractice, or violence.”
They praised the Electoral Team dispatched from the PDP’s National Headquarters for their professionalism and transparency throughout the process.
The petitioners alleged that there were attempts at manipulation during the congress, but these were effectively thwarted by the electoral team, which they believe ultimately benefited the party. They noted that no stakeholders could dispute the integrity of the delegate selection process.
Furthermore, they extended their gratitude to Ambassador Damagum and the National Working Committee (NWC) for their support in ensuring the success of the Kogi state Ad-hoc Delegates Congress.
In closing, they distanced themselves from and vehemently condemned the absurd and misleading statements issued by Senators Laah Danjuma and Philip Gyunka, the Caretaker Committee’s Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
