Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: SDP

  • Kogi Post Polls: SDP’s Viral videos, Fake, senseless concoctions of ‘delusional losers’ – APC

    Kogi Post Polls: SDP’s Viral videos, Fake, senseless concoctions of ‘delusional losers’ – APC

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign Council has lambasted the Social Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate over “a concocted rigging video”, released to divert the attention of the public away from the conversation around their not being able to file a petition against the outcome of the November 11 election within the stipulated time frame.

    The party said the concocted videos reflected the level of intelligence of those it described as the “delusional mob of ethnocentric bigots” around the SDP candidate, adding that these archaic strategies had always given birth to failure.

    The Director, Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the Council, Kingsley Fanwo, who said this in a statement on Monday, asked the public to disregard the senseless concoction, noting that the SDP and its thugs put up an autocratic gangsterism against democracy in Kogi East during the election apart from the blood that was allegedly spilled in the build up to the poll.

    According to him, the release of the concocted video on a day the SDP is battling with the determination of the people to make them do the right thing “is a road-side strategy to divert the people’s attention from the heavy cloud of controversy on their inability to file their petition within the constitutionally approved period.”

    “The November 11 Governorship Poll remains one of the most peaceful and credible in the political history of Kogi State. The flashes of killings and thuggery by the SDP gun men was not enough to blight the defining moment of our democratic history as a people,” he maintained.

    Fanwo blamed the security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services and the Police for the lawlessness being allegedly displayed by the SDP, saying, “The State Director of the DSS and the Commissioner of Police in charge of Kogi State Command seem to have licenced the violence and illegality of the SDP.

    “Releasing and circulating concocted videos to discredit a credible election and stir insurrection is a clear sin against the laws of the land. But the two security chiefs have put us in no doubt that they are in Kogi to defend the illegalities of the SDP.”

    He stated, “The attention of the Kogi State APC Governorship Campaign Council has been drawn to a concocted video being circulated by the delusional mob of ethnocentric bigots around the SDP Governorship Candidate, suggesting that the election in which they were drenched in straight defeat was rigged.

    “It is easy to accept the kind of thinking around the candidate, given the kind of archaic strategies that are giving birth to failure. The Social Democratic Party and its thugs put up an autocratic gangsterism against democracy in Kogi East during the Governorship election apart from the blood that was spilled in the build up to the poll.”

    He stressed that the APC would continue to follow the saga of inconsistencies surrounding the SDP’s purported petition and ensure that the right thing is done.

    “When the citizens rise to defend their rights, democracy is enriched. It is unfortunate. The antinomianism of the SDP should be a thing of concern for all Kogites,” he added.

    The APC Campaign Council said, “The danger of having the SDP go scot free with their disregard for the rule of law is dangerous as it may spark a major breakdown of law and order. We must be deliberate on the need to avoid disregard for constitutionalism.

    “We urge the general public to disregard the concocted video and ask SDP to explain how they got those ballot papers. They have questions to answer. Our party has won a free, fair and credible election and the mandate of the people can only be renewed in 2027.”

  • Kogi Violence: SDP Sends SOS to IG as APC Thugs, ASP Allegedly Unleash Mayhem on its Supporters in Kogi

    Kogi Violence: SDP Sends SOS to IG as APC Thugs, ASP Allegedly Unleash Mayhem on its Supporters in Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The chairman of the governorship campaign organisation of the Muri/Sam of the SDP in the state, Col. Suleiman Babanawa, (RTD) on Thursday in Lokoja called on the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the compromise of Kogi Police command and incessant attacks by APC thugs on SDP supporters in Kogi state.

    Col. Babanawa, (rtd) who made the call while addressing the Press at the Party’s secretariat in Lokoja noted that the rate at which APC’S thugs in collaboration with the Police are attacking SDP members
    is at alarming rate.

    He pointed out that Gunmen working for Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Wednesday this week attacked and dispersed a Socail Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Ward Rally at Ejule in Ofu LGA of Kogi State destroying property worths thousands of naira.

    The chairman further disclosed that at about 9: 30am about two hours before the rally was scheduled to commence that day, the thugs had descended on the St. Matthews Primary School venue and destroyed canopies, Public Address Systems, Chairs and the podium arranged for the event.

    On the same day night, he pointed out that similar assault was carried out on the SDP members in Ajaka, the headquarters of Igalamela/ Odolu local government by the outlawed chairman of the Taskforce on Firearms in Kogi state, comrade Friday Sani Makama and some police officers assigned to him by the police command.

    Col. Babanawa, (rtd) disclosed that luck therefore ran out of one ASP Sani Ademu of Police Quick Response Units who was arrested where they laid ambush at Okpachala village to assassinate the governorship candidate of SDP, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka.

    “After gun battle with security officers attached to SDP candidate in Kogi, the operation vehicles of the outlawed Friday Sani Makama were abandoned while he, ( Friday) escaped with other police officers and thugs.”

    “During an interrogation, on a viral video, ASP Sani Ademu said his boss, CSP, Femi Ojo, of Quick response unit of the police command assigned him to Friday Makama for an operation at Anyigba before their leader diverted to Ajaka community.” Babanawa said.

    He said the SDP has on several occasions in the state cried out to the Inspector General of Police over the compromise by the Kogi Police command with Governor Bello to revolt attacks on SDP supporters in the state but to no avail.

    “Recalled that Hon. Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja in his recent judgement declared that the Governor of Kogi State does not have the powers to constitute any task force on Firearms, or appoint Mr. Friday Sani Makama as it’s Director General.” He said.

    “The Court thereafter voided the appointment of Mr. Friday Sani Makama as Chairman of the Task Force and ordered the Police, the DSS, and the NIA, to invite, investigate, and interrogate Mr. Friday Sani Makama and all persons working with or under him, to repossess and retrieve all firearms in their possession.”

    Despite the court’s judgement and order, Col. Babanawa rtd, expressed shocks why such person could be given freedom and even be assigned an ASP by kogi police command for an illegal operation?.

    He said SDP members remains law abiding, committed, resolute and focused in abiding by campaign guidelines with the aim of capturing the state in the November election in Kogi state.

    In her contribution, the Director women wing campaign organisation, Hajia Mariam Salifu
    expressed sadness over the incessant political violence against women in Kogi state.

    She therefore appealed to the Nigerian first Lady, Senator Remi Tinibu to as a matter of urgency put all the necessary measures in place to give Kogi women a sigh of relief in the November Governorship election in the state.

  • SDP Has no hands in The Death Of Kotonkarfe Woman – DG MuriSam

    SDP Has no hands in The Death Of Kotonkarfe Woman – DG MuriSam

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Director General New Media MuriSam Campaign Council, Mr. Isaiah Davies Ijele has exonerated the Social Democratic Party (SDP) members from the death of a woman allegedly killed by unconfirmed thugs.

    In a press release signed by the
    Director General New Media MuriSam Campaign Council, of Social Democratic Party, Mr. Isaiah Davies Ijele said “We wish to state categorically that it is not true that the commissioner of police and other relevant authorities in the state were not aware of the SDP rally in Koton Karfe on that fateful day.”

    The attention of the Social Democratic Party’s campaign council in Kogi State has been drawn to a defamatory and incoherent press briefing done by the All Progressives Congress campaign council in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

    The briefing which was nothing but a clear attempt towards character assassination against the personalities of SDP candidates and their supporters was spare-headed by the information commissioner to the drowning administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello, Kingsley Fanwo and his cronies. While we could have overlooked the kindergarten political activities of these desperados, it is important to clear the air against possible wrong perception of the image of the Social Democratic Party in preparation for the November 11th election.

    To this end, as a campaign council we wish to clear the air as follows:

    1.. Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and all his supporters are law abiding, steadfast, and respecters of the laid down principles of democracy and the all binding Electoral Act unlike the APC, her supporters and the candidate they are finding difficult to push down the throat of Kogites.

    2.. The Campaign of the SDP has been and will continue to be issue-based, devoid of any ethnic colouration. Our campaign is anchored on the promises of saving Kogi State from the hands of individuals milking her resources dry, impoverishing the populace, ethnically dividing the state, percentage salaries payment, rebuilding the collapsed infrastructures of the state, creating a peaceful environment where businesses and unity will thrive and putting Kogi on the path of prosperity.

    3.. There is no healthy legacy for Ododo anywhere in Kogi state to build on outside continuing in the stinking path of Yahaya Bello, his godfather. It is laughable and misleading that the campaign council is trying so hard to portray divisive Ododo as a unifying individual. Is it not funny that an Ododo that cannot address Kogites is being paraded as a competent candidate over Murtala Yakubu Ajaka that constantly relates his plans and ideas to Kogites?

    4.. On the sad issue of Koton Karfe, the SDP and her supporters were peaceful, uncompromising, law-abiding but were wickedly attacked by thugs working the APC. As it was expected, the APC lied about the lady not bearing arms. The background and the history of the deceased will further prove her activities as a thug in town. There is a video evidence of peaceful gathering SDP supporters before APC thugs invaded the venue with guns and machetes, destroying the venue, injuring our supporters and shooting sporadically at our convoy. Contrary to the position of Mr. Fanwo and the APC, it was our supporters that were attacked. It is already evident that the APC unleashed terror on the peace loving people of Koton Karfe because of their love for Murtala Yakubu Ajaka. The unanswered question is what is an APC supporter doing in an SDP rally?

    5.. We wish to state categorically that it is not true that the commissioner of police and other relevant authorities in the state were not aware of the SDP rally in Koton Karfe on that fateful day. What is true is that the APC ambushed the good people of Koton Karfe to cause panic and deter their resolve for the candidacy of Murtala Yakubu Ajaka. This they failed to achieve because after the attacks and destruction the people still came out to receive Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, confirming their support for him.

    6.. There is no time that our principal either privately or publicly called any ethnic group “a common enemy”. The video clip of his outing on Channels television is on the internet for everyone to listen and watch. In that interview, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka harped on “Governor Yahaya Bello as the common enemy of the people ”. Indeed he is the common enemy of the people because he deliberately divided the Kogi political environment across ethnic lines, he is a terror to his subjects and made them suffer untold hardship. A Governor that excavated federal roads, refused paying salaries, and attacked political opponents rightly earned his title as the “common enemy of the people”.

    7.. The APC cannot win in a peaceful and transparent contest.

    8.. The good people of Kogi state will vote Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka against an Ododo that is unworthy, incompetent and tribalistic. By far, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka is the most accepted candidate for the 11/11/2023 election.

    9.. The security institutions of the state must remain neutral in the service of Kogites and Nigerians. They must resist the urge to be induced into playing politics and siding with the oppressor of the people. As a peace loving party, we are calling on them to thoroughly investigate the saddening incident in Koton Karfe and hold those behind it accountable. Pictorial evidence and video clips of the unprovoked attack of the SDP and her supporters are on the internet for people to deduce from while waiting for a comprehensive police report.

    10.. To test the competency of Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and Alhaji Usman Ododo, we are challenging the APC candidate to a live debate on any media platform of his choice. It is high time Bello tuned down his desperation for this unachievable third term bid and allow Ododo to tell Kogites what he has to offer. If he is too timid and incompetent to address Kogites, his godfather Yahaya Bello can stand for him.

    11.. The media handlers of Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka are objectively minded people who are centrally focused on dishing out valid information.

    We appreciate the good people of Koton Karfe for standing against the invasion of the APC and maintaining their support for Murtala Yakubu Ajaka in the face of threats and attacks. Be rest assured that Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and the SDP will repay your love and steadfastness to the restoration movement.

    Elections are not won by violence, intimidation and division, it is time for the APC and Bello to stop the violent attacks on the SDP and her supporters. Since the APC is claiming that her candidate is popular, let them stop the attacks and allow the people decide who to govern them through the ballot.

  • Kogi Guber: Muri/Sam (SDP) Campaign Organisation Name Campaign Hierarchy In Kogi

    Kogi Guber: Muri/Sam (SDP) Campaign Organisation Name Campaign Hierarchy In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Murtala Ajaka Gubernatorial Campaign Organization of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) aka Muri/Sam Campaign has announced the composition of top hierarchy of its State Campaign Council.

    This is in furtherance of its plans towards the November 11, 2023 Governorship Elections in Kogi State as the Campaign Council is made up of top- rate technocrats, seasoned professionals and sassy politicians include:

    Those appointed are: Col. Suleiman Babanawa (Rtd): State chairman, Hon. Peter Moses Co- state Chairman, Sheik Ibrahim Jibrin, State Director general, Hon. Wuya A Mohammed State Secretary, Director, Security and intelligence, Brig-Gen Benjamin Ipinyomi while Hajiya Aisha Asabe Yusuf
    (ACP) was appointed Deputy director.

    Others are: Hon. Faruk Adejoh-Audu
    Director, Communications/Campaign spokesman, Pastor Dayo Thomas Deputy director spokesman and Hon. Ahmed Attah was appointed Director youth affairs respectively.

    Kogi Central:
    Zonal Officers are: Rt. Hon. Lawal Idris, Kogi central Zonal chairman,
    Hon Akomi Yusuf Ojapa, Zonal central director- general, Hon. Anokebe Zonal secretary.

    Kogi west:
    Kogi west zonal chairman has Chief Adeyemi, Zonal Director -general, Hon. Chief Fehnti Dada while Hon. Abayomi Bello has been appointed zonal secretary.

    Kogi East Zonal Officers are: Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape, Chairman
    Hon. Suleiman Atajachi, Director general while the post of zonal secretary went to Hon: Ranyi Daniya respectively.

    A press release by the Campaign SPOKESMAN, Faruk Adejoh-Audu and made available to Journalists in Lokoja said further announcements and details of other key functionaries of the campaign shall be released in due course .

  • Kogi APC Suffers Major Setback As Massive Defection To SDP Hits The Party In Ankpa LGA

    Kogi APC Suffers Major Setback As Massive Defection To SDP Hits The Party In Ankpa LGA

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    In a shocking turn of events, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi state, the traditional home and stronghold of the Party in the state has been hit by massive wave of defection to Social Democratic Party, (SDP).

    The defection which involves mostly the executive members of the Party and political office holders in the Local council includes the APC Ankpa LG Party Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Zekeri, Mallam Hashim Adamu, Chairman of Enjema Ward 1.

    Others are the Suburb 2 Youth Leader, Hon. Aliyu Hussaini, the Secretary of APC Ankpa Township Ward, Hon. Ilyasu Abdulkareem, and the SSA to the Local Government Chairman on political matters, Hon. Yunusa Friday Okpanachi tendered their resignations to join the SDP.

    Daybreak gathered that they all made the decision to join the SDP due to the growing supports and wide spread of the party’s leadership popularity and future development policies for Kogi state.

    The former youth leader of the APC, Aliyu Hussaini attributed their withdrawal from the party to lack of political initiatives, Party’s failure to address pressing issues and poor renumeration for supporters at the grassroots for the past years.

    He expressed confidence in the SDP commitment to prioritizing the needs and aspirations of the youth.

    The mass resignation of the ward chairmen and youth leaders has in no small measure affected the APC’s stronghold in Ankpa LGA while the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), however, grooms the decampees in the area.

    As the countdown to the November Gubernatorial elections begins, all eyes will be on how both parties navigate their political and campaign strategies and propel their respective agendas forward.

  • No Defection Of SDP Zonal, 21 LGA Chairmen In Kogi – SDP

    No Defection Of SDP Zonal, 21 LGA Chairmen In Kogi – SDP

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi state publicity secretary of Social Democratic Party, (SDP) Yahaya bahawudeen has described
    Bello’s claims of the defection Of three zonal and 21 LGA chairmen Of SDP to APC as part of his desperate campaign of serial fake new

    “Our attention has been drawn to a press statement by the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello, claiming that the three Zonal Chairmen of the SDP and all the 21 LGA Chairmen of the party had decamped to the APC.”

    In a press release signed by the state publicity secretary of SDP, Yahaya Bahawudeen and made available to Journalists in Lokoja on Friday said the claim by Bello through his press secretary was preceded by series of fake stories planted in the mainstream traditional media houses.

    We want to emphasise that no single member of the executive of the SDP in Kogi has decamped or defected to the APC. The name of the Zonal Chairman of Kogi East is Pastor Sunday Atabor; That of Kogi Central is Musa Salawu Odogba while the Zonal Chairman of Kogi West District is Hon Emmanuel Adebayo A.

    “Some faceless blogs also went to town with a disparaging fabrication to the effect that our candidate, Alhaji Ajaka had collapsed his campaign into that of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

    “The statement by Mr. Yahaya Bello has effectively proven that the governor that has been hunting and attacking our candidate and our party in the last couple of months is the purveyor of the falsehoods.”

    “It would be recalled that Yahaya Bello had in the last two months orchestrated several attacks on our party and candidate which include the burning down of our Kogi State Secretariat and the gun attack on our candidate on June 3, 2023 personally led by the Governor.”

    “The crude falsehood about Aihaji Muritala Ajaka and our party members are to say the least, petty, preposterous, naive and provocative and bereft of the sophistication expected of modern political campaign.”

    The statement pointed out that all these Zonal Chairmen and the LG Chairmen are not only steadfastly in the party but they are by the grace of God leading the charge to dislodge Mr Yahaya Bello and his cabinet of thugs in the forthcoming November 11, Governorship Elections.

    “The names Suleiman Isah and Zubairu Ibrahim given as Zonal Chairmen of Kogi East and Central which was contained in Mr Yahaya Bello’s press statement
    are fictitious.”

    The statement enjoined Journalists to be circumspect of stories emanating from such individuals who are well known enemies of the state.

    “We call on the good people of Kogi State to ignore these desperate falsehoods invented by Mr Bello to douse the raging resolve of the masses of our people to liberate our state from his vice stranglehold.”

  • Kogi Guber: SDP Alleges Plot By Gov Bello To Incarcerate Its Candidate In Kogi

    Kogi Guber: SDP Alleges Plot By Gov Bello To Incarcerate Its Candidate In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka’s Campaign Organization has allegedly uncovered a conspiracy between some security chiefs in Kogi State to abduct the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.

    In a press release signed by the Director of communication, Faruk Adejo and made available for journalists in Lokoja alleged that they intended to frame him with trump-up charges with the aim of clamping him into detention.

    Details of the plan according to the statement began manifesting on Tuesday to hastily arraigning Alhaji Ajaka before a Lokoja Court to legally seal the plot to incarcerate him indefinitely.

    In furtherance of the plot, the statement alleged that “the State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Adeshina Yusuf who had obstinately refused to investigate our petition of attempted assassination against Mr Bello and his band of thugs and gunmen who attacked our motorcade on June 3, 2023 is now stalking our candidate at the behest of Mr Bello to accuse him of been the aggressor in the attack.”

    The release alleged that “Some gun men in Mufti appeared at an address on Khartoum Street in Wuse, Abuja at about 12:30pm Tuesday claiming they have been detailed by Mr Yusuf to arrest Alhaji Ajaka for attempted assasination, gun possession and terrorism as a result of the same attack carried our by Mr Bello and his gun men.”

    “These elaborate plot is an obvious manifestion to stop the escalating popularity of the SDP Candidate in the November 11, Governorship Elections.” the statement added.

    “Alhaji Ajaka has no record of violence whatsoever at anytime in his political career, but in the last four months, the candidate, members of his campaign team have been at the receiving end of State violence from Federal security agents who have been obviously compromised to torment political rivals of Mr Bello.”

    The statement pointed out how party members cried out to all the relevant agencies of state to rein in Governor Bello and get him to play by the rules of engagement of electioneering to no avail.

    “Where in the word is an interested party in an election allowed the pleasure to arrest opponents and clamp them into detention to prevent them from campaigning.
    This plot was hatched after a campaign outing by Alhaji Ajaka at Idah during which a mammoth crowd never before recorded in history of rallies in Kogi State came to receive him.”

    It was also alleged that “Two weeks ago, he procured security agents in the state to extra judicially execute Mallam Kabir Bala aka Okwo, a thug he freed from prison and unleashed on defenceless citizens of the state at the dawn of the 2019 Elections. Okwo was among about 20 thugs he freed from custody across the state to use for violence electoral mayhem in 2019.”

    The Director, communications pointed out that Okwo was a reverreded member of the APC who was even Inaugurated by Mr Bello as the Ofu LGA Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council.

    “Okwo was also one of the 67 delegates to the APC National Convention. At no time was he ever accused, invited or arrested for any crime since 2019 until he openly renounced violence and announced his support for Alhaji Ajaka before he was hunted down killed and then accused of various violent crimes.”

    Once again “we are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call this outlaw of a governor to order since we cannot press charges against him due to his executive immunity.”

    Using the state institutions of compliance to suppress opponents in an election with the force of arms is akin to coup d’etat and we hereby task the Federal Government of Nigeria under president Tinubu to forestall such an unconstitutional desperation.

  • Kogi Guber: SDP Suffers Setback As Hoodlums Vandalize Party campaign Office In Kogi

    Kogi Guber: SDP Suffers Setback As Hoodlums Vandalize Party campaign Office In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Hoodlums in the early hours of Sunday invaded the State Campaign of the Social Democracy Party (SDP)’s Office, vandalize the complex and pulled down the big billboard and set it on fire.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the incident, the running mate to the SDP governorship candidate, Chief Sam Ranti Abenemi expressed shock that the hoodlums who he claimed were political thugs could invade the campaign office and destroyed it’s property even without any form of provocation.

    According to the Sunnews Abenemi confirmed that few days ago, some hoodlums came to the campaign office and warned it’s security personnel that they were coming to vandalize the office because the governorship candidate who was a former national working committee member of the All progressive congress had used image of president Bola Tinubu on his bill board .

    Chief Abenemi said “Ajaka, the SDP governorship candidate has been a close associate of Tinubu who he said he revered most eminently and wondered why some people feel jittery about his close association with the president.”

    “The party will not engage in any form of violence, but will always exhibit decorum and maturity in selling their manifestos
    to the people of the state”. he assured.

    Hon. Abenemi therefore urged it’s numerous supporters to remain calm and be law abiding even as he said the incident will only encourage them to be more focused and determined to aggressively rescue the state from hunger and starvation.

  • 2023 Guber: 20 Support Groups Abandon LP, Swells Up SDP Standard Bearer’s Camp In Kogi

    2023 Guber: 20 Support Groups Abandon LP, Swells Up SDP Standard Bearer’s Camp In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    No fewer than 20 Support groups for Labour Party has withdrawn their support and pledged their loyalty to the standard bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Muritala Yakubu Ajaka in Kogi state

    This was contained in a communiqué issued on Saturday by comrade Benjamin Isah, the leader of the 20 groups and addressed to Dr. Bala Sunday OMA, the leader of the OBI-DIENT movement in the state which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja.

    In the communique, the group expressed their reasons for throwing their weight behind the SDP standard bearer, stressing that the development has the potential to impact the dynamics of the November 2023 election in Kogi State to no small measure.

    The leader of the decamped 20 support groups, comrade Benjamin Isah, expressed gratitude towards the LP Support Group Forum for their previous collaboration, but outlined their reasons for withdrawing support at this stage of the struggle.

    The groups, however, noted that their decision-making process to dump LP candidate for SDP standard was based on considerations of credibility, development, and the overall well-being of the state.

    According to the communique, the support groups were influenced to the decision because Murtala Yakubu Ajaka’s Track Record; Acceptability, impact of the candidate in the society and human capital development which stood him out among the candidates vying for the coveted position in the November election

    Explaining, the group leader stated that the members were dissatisfied with the party’s conduct in the past primary election, making the group to pass a vote of no confidence in the LP state executive.

    The communique stressed that the resultant loss of faith on the executive members of the party played a significant role in their decision to distance themselves from their former party’s candidate in the forth coming governorship election in the state.

    “The support groups recognized the achievements of Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and the believed that he would be better equipped to lead and foster growth in the state”,

    “Extensive door-to-door surveys conducted by the support groups revealed that Murtala Yakubu Ajaka enjoyed significant popularity among the constituents of the Idah Federal Constituency.” It added.

    According to the groups of 20 , the sound financial status of the SDP candidate is crucial in ensuring a successful campaign and eventual victory, while his widespread acceptance across the state further solidified their decision to endorse him as their governorship candidate.

    Meanwhile, the leader of the OBI-DIENT movement in the state, Dr. Bala Sunday OMA has commended the bold move of the groups of 20 to file behind, Hon. Muritala Ajaka in the November governorship race in the state .

    Dr Bala Sunday OMA therefore enjoined them to close ranks and be consistent in the struggle ahead in order to ensure a change in the shape of the dynamics of the Kogi state politics via November election to the betterment of all.

  • Peter Obi Is Our Candidate – SDP Dismiss Alliance with Tinubu, Makinde

    Peter Obi Is Our Candidate – SDP Dismiss Alliance with Tinubu, Makinde

    The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has denied adopting All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate and Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde ahead of the general elections.

    A statement by the National Secretary, Saleh Dass, made the clarification in a statement on Wednesday.

    Dass recalled the National Working Committee, NWC, only gave an advice to state chapters due to the lingering court case over the legitimate constitution of the leadership.

    The directive issued was that they were at liberty to enter into alliances “with an opposition party”, for the purpose of the elections in February and March.

    Dass noted that those who decided to align with the ruling APC as well as the PDP in Oyo took a position that violated the resolution of the SDP.

    The NWC has constituted a five-member committee with Senator Ebenezer Ikeyina as Chairman, the secretary announced.

    Mallam Nasiru N’Abba, Mr Kelvin Damara, Mrs Y. Nolan are members, while Mrs Adenike Olujembola will serve as Secretary.

    The committee is to meet regarding the reports that some leaders of the SDP in Oyo and elsewhere are supporting Tinbu and Makinde “contrary to the directive of the party”.