Kogi SDP is facing a deepening leadership crisis as factions clash, with state chairman Moses Oricha dismissing a rival meeting as illegal and reaffirming his faction’s legitimacy
The leadership crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has deepened, following a fresh declaration by the state chairman, Moses Oricha, who described a recent meeting convened by a faction of the party as “illegal and of no consequence.”
The meeting in question was reportedly organized by one Ahmed Attah and attended by the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.
According to Oricha, such a gathering lacks legitimacy, as those behind it are not recognized executives of the SDP in the state.
In a statement issued in Lokoja, the state capital, Oricha explained that a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a report from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja had already nullified the congress that allegedly produced Attah and Abdulrahaman Idris as party leaders.
Quoting directly from the INEC report, Oricha said the Commission confirmed that when its officials arrived at the supposed congress venue, no delegates or contestants were present, and no official list was provided.
Based on this, INEC concluded that no congress took place, thereby invalidating any claim that new executives emerged from the exercise.
“With this clear position from INEC, it is unlawful for Attah and Idris to parade themselves as executives of the party anywhere,” Oricha stressed, accusing the faction of trying to deceive the public and mislead party members.
He insisted that the only recognized and legitimate structure of the SDP in Kogi State remains the one under his leadership.
He further emphasized that the national leadership of the party has affirmed this position, maintaining that no parallel executive committee exists in any state unless duly recognized by both the party hierarchy and INEC.
Describing those behind the rival faction as impostors, Oricha warned them to desist from interfering in the affairs of the SDP, reminding members to ignore individuals promoting what he called a “kangaroo congress” not supported by the party’s constitution or electoral regulations.
Turning his attention to Ajaka, the SDP chairman urged the former governorship candidate to act responsibly and respect the same party structure that produced him as the candidate in the 2023 election.
“If Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka truly has the interest of the party at heart, he should not allow himself to be used against the structure that gave him the platform,” Oricha stated.
“As the saying goes, do not bite the finger that feeds you.”
He also accused members of the faction of holding secret meetings with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including high-profile politicians such as David Mark and Nasir El-Rufai.
According to him, pictorial evidence of such engagements further exposed their lack of loyalty to the SDP. “Who is deceiving who?” he asked rhetorically.
It will be recalled that some SDP members believed to be loyal to Ajaka held a meeting on Saturday to distance themselves from the coalition of opposition parties, which had recently adopted the ADC as its platform.
Speaking after the gathering, the factional chairman, Ahmed Attah, claimed that their decision followed wide consultations with SDP chairmen across the 21 local government areas of Kogi State, noting that several notable stakeholders were also in attendance.
However, Oricha dismissed the meeting as an effort in futility, insisting that the SDP in Kogi remains one united family under his authentic leadership.
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