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Upholds House member Abejide as party leader
From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
As the crisis rocking the Kogi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensifies, the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party, on Monday, reaffirmed the expulsion of their former state chairman, Kingsley Ogga, describing his purported return as a “figment of his own imagination”.
The party made this known during the State Working Committee and critical stakeholders’ meeting held at Lily Hotel, Lokoja.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the State Public Relations Officer, Mr Johnson Tayo, stated that the party at the state level will not align with the Coalition Movement, as it does not reflect the true yearnings of party members.
They described the rumoured suspension of the House of Representatives member for Yagba Federal Constituency, Leke Abejide, by Ogga’s faction as laughable, asserting that no such decision was taken by the party.
“We do not recognise the leadership of Kingsley Ogga. Ogga was expelled from the party in 2022 right from his ward, to LGA, which was ratified by the state executive. There was nowhere in time that the suspension and expulsion was upturned. By implication, a party member whose membership is withdrawn is logically out of the circle.
“We reiterated that Ogga’s suspension renders all his actions null and void, and he can therefore not speak on behalf of our great party.
“We called on security operatives to help us apprehend him for impersonation. His continued false claim as party chairman is causing untold damage to the party in the state, stressing that Ogga has been forging party members’ signatures to perpetrate his criminal act.
“However, at today’s meeting, we reviewed our stand and reaffirmed that the Member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon. Leke Abejide, remains the leader of the party, not only at the state level but also at the national level.
“Leke Abejide is the only elected party member in the entire country, and so his position as leader remains sacrosanct.”
The Kogi SWC also disassociated themselves from the coalition movement at the national level, stating that at the appropriate time, the party will make known its position on whom they will support.
