Politics
Crisis rocks Kogi PDP as LG chairmen asks for sack of Senator Danjuma La’ar-led State Caretaker Committee
The oppositions Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Kogi State is enmeshed in protracted crisis as the 18 out of 21 Local Government Councils party Chairmen have demanded for the sack of the Senator Danjuma-led Caretaker Committee.
The LG Chairman operating under a forum had n a petition which was signed by the Chairman of the forum, Hon. Abejirin Olajide Johnson, a copy which was made available to CAPITAL POST on Thursday in Lokoja accused the Caretaker Committee Chairman of bias and misconduct that were not in the interest of the party in Kogi State.
The petition dated 29th July, 2024 and addressed to the National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, said, the forum passed a vote of no confidence in the Caretaker Committee over conducts considered as inimical to the growth of PDP in Kogi State.
The forum insisted that the recently conducted Ad-hoc Delegates Congress was peaceful and in line with the party constitution, a development they said, was contrary to the position of the Caretaker Chairman and Secretary.
They called for dissolution of the Caretaker Committee to save the party from continuous slide into obscurity in the State, adding that political activities for the next election were beginning to gear up, hence, there is need for the opposition party to reposition for the challenge ahead.
Earlier, the petitioners said, “As major stakeholders in the just concluded Ad-hoc Delegates Congress that took place Saturday, 27th July, 2024, we state unequivocally that the exercise.
“To elect three (3) Ad-Hoc Delegates each, was done in all the 239 Electoral Wards of the 21 Local Government Areas in Kogi state;
“The process was peaceful, free, fair, and credible.
“The process was orderly, hitch-free with no single incident of suppression, malpractice, and violence.
“The Electoral Team, sent from PDP’s National Headquarters was firm, thorough, and transparent.
Petitioners alleged manipulation attempt during the congress, but which was resisted by the electoral team, a situation they noted was good for the party, even as no stakeholder could fault the process that led to the success of the delegates congress.
They said: “We commend Ambassador Damagum, and the National Working Committee, NWC, of our great party for ensuring that thorough, necessary processes were emplaced towards the overwhelming success of the Kogi state Ad-Hoc Delegates Congress.
“We dissociate and condemn outrightly the preposterous and mischievous statement issued by Senators Laah Danjuma and Philip Gyunka; Chairman, and Secretary Caretaker Committee of Kogi state chapter of PDP.”
“The statement is total falsehood, misleading, misinforming and determined to confuse party faithful and the NWC.
“Senators Danjuma and Gyunka who knows that the process was very credible and meets every requirements of Wards Election only released the statement having failed to please ‘their associates’ in manipulating the process.”
They wondered why the caretaker chairman chose to address a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) in a matter that is purely intra-party.
Adding that it was a known fact that the power to superintendent over congresses lies with the National Secretariat of the party and not the state caretaker committee.
By this singular act, the party chairmen noted, the caretaker committee has conducted itself in a manner capable of bringing the party to disrepute in the eyes of not only the electoral body to which the petition was addressed but also the uninitiated public.
This action they argued should be investigated and those found culpable appropriately sanctioned.
The petitioners further said, “It is our view that the caretaker chairman is in no position to impugn the integrity of the officers saddled by the National Secretariat to conduct the congress, since it is same authority that appointed both parties.
“To gloss over the overriding authority of the National Secretariat and addressing a petition to INEC is an unpardonable affront that speaks volume about the true intentions of Senator Laah Danjuma and his co-travellers.”
It was gathered that the party chairmen are protesting what they consider an attempt by a former Senator who is also a party leader to hijack the party structure using the current caretaker committee.
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter, Chief Tony Okocha, has defended the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state, citing escalating security threats.
According to Chief Okocha, Rivers State was on the brink of anarchy due to increasing security concerns in various parts of the state.
Okocha made this statement while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency, Okocha commended the President for his “timely” intervention and criticized those opposing the decision.
“The state of emergency called by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that promote lawlessness, then you should know there is a problem.
“I see some people jumping onto television platforms to cast aspersions on Mr. President and condemn what they do not understand. Mr. President knows more than they do.
“The truth of the matter is that Rivers State was headed towards anarchy. We all know Rivers is one of the states that sustain this country. Some of the same people criticizing the President now would have also condemned him if he had done nothing.”
Chief Okocha also questioned the silence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was demolished under Governor Fubara’s administration.
“Thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has been president, General Obasanjo has been president, and they know that every day on their table, they receive security reports.
“I hear the NBA saying the suspension is an affront to democracy. But when the assembly complex was burned and the next day, eleven pieces of equipment were deployed to demolish it, the NBA was silent. They were alive, yet we didn’t hear anything from them”, he said.
Reacting to criticism over why the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was not sanctioned despite allegations that he contributed to the unrest, Okocha argued that Wike was not involved in the crisis.
He said, “For those asking why the Governor and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended but not the Minister of the FCT—was he in the frame? The answer is no”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
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