PDP

By Richard Elesho/ Lokoja

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kogi State has debunked media reports that the party is in crisis. It also said the report of alleged imposition of governorship, Senate and House of Representative candidates by former Governor Ibrahim Idris is fake, baseless and misleading.

This is contained in a statement issued in Lokoja by the party’s Director General, Research and Documentation, Dickson Achadu in reaction to reports published in some National Dailies yesterday with the title: Crisis Rocks Kogi PDP Primaries over alleged imposition of candidates. “The state governorship primaries is due for next year, we wondered how some mischief makers would be crying foul over a process that has not began and has no date.”

“While we acknowledge that former Governor Ibrahim Idris remains leader of the party, the report of imposition by him of his son as the sole candidate for the governorship election is a mischief taken too far by those scared of the PDP.”

Achadu commended the former governor for making efforts to woo aggrieved members back into the party. He listed some of such members to include Former Acting Governor, Clarence Olafemi, Chief John Odawn and Senator Nicholas Ugbane,

The party said eighteen aspirants of proven integrity have indicated interest to vie for next year’s governorship primaries of the party. “The writers in an attempt to create disaffection, stooped so low to have singled out a particular aspirant of the party all in an attempt to score cheap point. They however didn’t question the individual’s capacity and constitutional rights to aspire to public office. For the avoidance of doubts, every qualified and law abiding citizen of Kogi State including children of former public office holders have right to political aspiration, with the electorate left to decide their fate.” Achadu explained.

In a related development, the former Governor in a statement by his media office denied involvement in any plot to impose candidates on the electorate and faulted the unnamed source of the reports. He urged readers to disregard the reports.
“It is curious that the only authority cited for the report is a source that preferred not to be named. Of course, the report is completely untrue and a figment of the imagination of its sponsors with the sole aim of bringing the former governor to public ridicule and generating bad blood within the opposition PDP, which he has a rear privilege to lead.

“Alhaji Idris is a successful businessman and respected politician with tremendous respect for democratic ethos, dialogue and team work. These were credentials that set aside his Nine years in public office for unequalled peace, cohesion and development in the state.

“Idris is a responsible father who through the grace of Allah has withheld nothing from the training of his heirs, children, and his vast dependents. He believes in giving them the best education possible to earn them a good start in life and to be able to hold their own anywhere and at anytime. Certainly, he does not believe in close-circuiting or abridging the process to fast track success for anyone.

“The former Governor does not believe in imposition of candidates, nor does he have power to impose his choices on others. He has repeatedly cautioned against it as an unjust practice and has consistently been working along with other leaders to provide a level playing ground for all PDP aspirants in the state. This is his vow to the people.

“As a major stakeholder in the party, many aspirants have without doubts, consulted Alhaji Idris about their ambitions. The former governor wishes to assure all aspirants and indeed members of the PDP that he has no preferred candidates whether such are his biological, political or foster sons anointed for any of the offices. The task of rescuing our fatherland from bad leadership cannot be a family affair. Rather, it is a task for all and must be discharged selflessly.

“Those behind the reports harbor intentions that are not noble. The former governor denies categorically that he is not part and will not be part of any treachery to impose candidates on the electorate. The reports are untrue, evil and does not represent the thinking of Alhaji Idris. We therefore urge the good people of Kogi State, PDP members and all lovers of freedom to disregard and dismiss same as concoctions from the pit of hell.

“Those behind the reports are enemies of democracy with the aim of distracting the former governor from leading credible opposition in the state. They have failed in this. Alhaji Idris is too focused to be distracted.