The Kogi State Congress of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), held last Saturday in Lokoja, has been described as ‘illegal, fraudulent, null and void’.
Capt. Joe Agada rtd, who made the declaration at a press briefing in Lokoja, told newsmen that the purported state congress was illegal, lacked credibility and adherence to party guidelines.
Agada maintained that his group had concrete proof to show that the majority of delegates at the purported congress that allegedly produced, Mr Enemona Ayebe, as state PDP Chairman were characterised with illegality and marred with anomalies.
Agada stressed that the basic bloc of the State Congress which is the Three-Man Ad-hoc Ward Delegate Congress where they were supposed to elect 717 delegates in Kogi, purportedly conducted by Rt Hon. Boyelayefa Dabekeme led committee, was marred with grave anomalies and impersonation of Returning officers from FCT, Nassarawa, Imo and Kano States.
He insisted that the development compromised the integrity of the ward congress and therefore rendered the entire process null and void.
He added that the delegates that allegedly produced Ayebe at the purported State Congress held on August 31, 2024, were marred with impersonation of delegates across all the 21 local government areas of the state.
He noted that the guidelines for the conduct of PDP Ward, LGA, State and Zonal Congresses as well as the National Convention in PDP Constitution, to select party executive committees at all levels, were jettisoned.
The PDP chairmanship aspirant stressed that the accreditation at the State congress was highly manipulated and populated with nonstatutory delegates across the 21 LGAs of Kogi State.
“As a leading aspirant of Kogi PDP chairmanship before the party decided to shoot itself in the leg, I am addressing this press conference to clarify certain issues.
“We want to let the public know that we did not withdraw from the PDP chairmanship and the state congress race, held on Saturday, August 31, 2024, but we decided not to participate due to illegality of the process.
“I, and my group, decided not to participate in the illegal PDP state congress in Lokoja on August 31, because we cannot build on illegality. Our participation would mean confirming legality of illegal process.
“For instance, Olamaboro LGA has 103 delegates in total, of which only 48 could attend the purported congress because 55 delegates who are in my group boycotted the congress.
“Yet, 83 delegates were purportedly accredited by the state congress committee. Hence, 48 impersonators were fictitiously added to the accreditation.
“This scenario in Olamaboro also occurred throughout the entire 21 local government areas of the state during the purported state congress on August 31.
“We have written to the PDP State Congress Appeal Panel, notifying them that 55 authentic delegates from Olamaboro LGA did not participate in the purported state congress,” Agada said.
Agada stressed that the PDP should not see the illegality issue as a party’s internal affairs, but as a matter that would be challenged in Court.
According to Agada, the Supreme Court has made a distinction between processes that are called internal affairs of the party, and what the Court can inquire into.
“In 2022 judgment, the Supreme Court affirmed that where an action has not taken place, it is the internal party affairs.
“But where an action has taken place, an aggrieved member of the party who has locus and concerned that a bridge of the Constitution of party guidelines has been violated by the party itself can seek redress in court.
“This is why we did not participate in the purported illegal state congress because we have locus as we have declared our abstinence,” Agada said.
He added: “We will approach the Court because the injuries done to our aspirations cannot be compensated by quantum damages in lieu of the financial compensation.
“It is an interest that must be protected, hence, the need for the press briefing to alert the general public of tge illegality of the kangaroo PDP state congress in Kogi”.
Agada noted that the Kogi PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Sen. Laal Danjuma; and its Secretary, Mr Philip Gyunka, had written to the INEC, DSS, and Police, PDP NWC to notify them of the anomalies that marred the purported state congress.
Agada also said that aside from the illegality of the congress, the purported elected Kogi PDP Chairman Enemona Anyebe, had been debarred by the PDP Disciplinary Committee in his Ogugu ward 2, from holding any party office due to anti activities.
According to Agada, Anyebe was found guilty of participating in anti-part activities by Ogugu Ward 2 Disciplinary Committee on May 3, 2019, which was reconfirmed on March 20, 2024, with authentic proof.
He stressed that the debarred Ayebe neglected and failed to appeal the disciplinary committee actions up till on August 31, when the purported state congress was held.
Agada emphasised that there was subsisting Court order restraining Anyebe from holding any party office position or participating in any elective positions at all levels including party ex-officio.
“My interest in seeking to become Kogi PDP Chairman is to build the party; it is all about developing the party, and not personal interest like others.
“We found this party together and we believe in the objectives of our founding fathers; we will not allow it to die in our hands.
“We will approach the Court to stop the PDP National Working Committee from recognising and ratifying any purported executive that emerged from the illegal congress in Kogi. We will follow this case to its logical conclusion,” Agada said.
Agada further accused the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of using his influence to cause crises in Kogi and 10 other States across the federation during the August 31, PDP State congresses, held nationwide.
“Wike is the man behind the PDP crises in Kogi as well as 10 other States across the federation during the August 31, state congresses.
“The PDP at national level has not been bold enough to sanction Wike, and one single person is holding the entire party to ransom. Wike is out to weaken and destroy PDP, and he must be stopped now.
“I can tell you, if PDP goes the way it is going now, then, forget about PDP in 2027 general elections,” Agada warned.
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