The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kogi State deepened in the week as 18 out of the 21 Local Government Councils party Chairmen in the state demanded the sack of the Senator Danjuma-led Caretaker Committee.
A petition signed by the aggrieved Chairmen, a copy of which was made available to Arogidigba Global Journal on Thursday in Abuja, indicated that the forum of the Chairmen led by Abejirin Olajide Johnson took the decision to reset the party organ in the state for a forward movement.
The petition, dated 29th July 2024 and addressed to the National Chairman, 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 the dissolution of the Caretaker Committee to save the party from a continuous slide into obscurity in the state, adding that political activities for the next election were beginning to gear up, hence, the need for the opposition party to reposition for the challenge ahead.
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 a manipulation attempt during the congress 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.”