Controversy trails APC, PDP Guber weekend primaries in Kogi
…as Barrister Adejo Okeme wins Labour Party primary
By Idris Ahmed
In their bid to beat the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline of March 17 for the submission of names of candidates’ for the November 11 Kogi Governorship election, political parties in the state, hurriedly conducted their primaries despite obstacles and challenges.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, on Friday, adopted the direct mode of the primary election held in the 239 electoral wards across the state.
Twelve hours to the commencement of the primary election, the Chairman of the APC election Committee for Kogi State, Bello Matawalle, who is the governor of Zamfara state, announced the sudden withdrawal from the race of 7 out of the 17 aspirants, while according to him, a Kogi High Court has barred one of the frontline aspirants, leaving others to contest the election.
Among those that withdrew from the contest were the Deputy Governor, Chief David Edward Onoja, the Commissioner of Finance Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Idris Mukadam, the State Accountant General, Jibrin Momoh, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkareem Jamiu Asuku, Hajiya Halima Alfa, among others.
However, a frontline aspirant said to have been barred from the race,Hon. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, rejected the Bello Matawalle message that a Kogi High Court has placed a ban on him not to participate in the primary election.
Hon.Murtala Yakubu Ajaka is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC and a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, who has dully purchased the N50m intent and nomination forms to contest the governorship election.
Early morning on Saturday, the APC election Committee for Kogi state, announced Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, the state Auditor General for local governments, as the winner of the APC primary election and was subsequently affirmed as the authentic APC candidate for the November Governorship election by party supporters at a Congress held at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja.
On the other hand the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has threatened to serve as undertaker for the burial of their own party if the fake delegates list being bandied by the officials of the National Secretariat is used for the primary election slated for Sunday.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday in Lokoja, the former Deputy Governor of the state, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, disclosed that despite the outcome of the state Congress of March 29 this year, supervised by Hon. Abdul Ningi, where authentic delegates were elected, the party hierarchy decided to produce a fake list to favour a particular governorship aspirant.
Awoniyi, who is also an aspirant for the governorship of Kogi state, explained further that the list of delegates as compiled during the Congress has been doctored and criminally altered with a view to satisfy the whims and caprises of some leaders for the benefit of a particular unpopular aspirant.
“The list presented today shows that there is complete variance with what is on the ground as strange names made up the list. It is absolutely unacceptable. We demand that only the March 29 list be used for justice to prevail.” Awoniyi said.
He revealed that names of persons and indeed aspirants in other political parties featured prominently on the fake list, while those that attended the March 29 Congress were omitted.
The former Deputy Governor therefore warned the National leadership of the party to heed the clarion call by the Stakeholders and members of the party to avoid negative consequences that may afflict the party after the Sunday primary election.
However, as at the time of filing this report the PDP delegates and supporters were seen trooping in to venue of the primary election at Kafas Event Centre, Lokoja.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party,( LP ) on Saturday conducted a peaceful and successful primary election to pick its flag bearer for the November Governorship election.
A legal practitioner and prominent businessman, Barrister Adejo Okeme, emerged as the Labour party’s candidate, as he garnered 127 votes ahead of his closet rival AVM Isaac Alfa who scored 69 votes.
READ ALSO: Oborevwori ready to hit the ground running on May 29…
Barrister Okeme is from Kogi East Senatorial district has promised
tackling unemployment and prompt salary payment, if given the chance to become the governor of the state on January 27th 2024.
Okeme said that his administration would ensure adequate security without which no meaningful development and businesses can thrive.
“I am a businessman and I know fully well that there is need for conducive atmosphere for business to thrive and therefore, I will not joke with the issue of security.” The LP candidate promised.
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