All is not well with the State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state as the leadership of the party threatens showdown over alleged mismanagement of the party.
Visibly aggrieved members of state non-working committee of the party leadership in the state rose from a State Executive Committee meeting in Lokoja on Wednesday calling for urgent intervention to save the party from collapse.
An insider source disclosed to newsmen that the meeting started and ended in a not-too-friendly note, adding that there is a sharp division between the 14-member state working committee and the 36-member non working committee of the party.
Chairman of non -Working Committee of the PDP State Executive Council, Otunba Kingsley Mokikan, who we learnt spoke on behalf of the non- working committee members in the meeting, decried the lackluster approach of the Uhuotu-led executive in running the party.
Mokikan explained that the meeting was convened at the instance of the state chairman to review the outcome of last presidential and national assembly election in the state.
He, however, expressed concern that the state chairman and other key members of the state working committee failed to attend the meeting.
“We don’t have confidence in them that they want progress of the party in Kogi state.
“We are calling for an emergency meeting within next 7 days. We are calling on the state chairman to come and explain why he has damaged the party we love so much.
“The last time we met was in March last year. Based on the constitution of PDP, the state working committee are expected to hold meeting at least twice in a month. The non-working committee are to meet at least once in a quarter. There is already a breach of the constitution.
“We never met to discuss issues affecting the party. Since last year, we were not called for meeting. Before the primary elections, no meeting. Before the campaigns, no meeting was called. Before the last elections, no meeting.
“The failure of the party is that of the leadership,” he said.
Mokikan insisted that the way Uhuotu-led executive are running the party is not good, adding that they don’t want the party to excel.
The state working committee comprises of 14 members including the state chairman, Deputy chairman, secretary, the three zonal chairmen and other substantive positions.
While the non- working members include Assistant Organising Secretary, Assistant Financial Secretary, 6 Ex-Officio members, Assistant PRO, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Youth Leader, Assistant Women Leader etc. They are 14, we are 15 aside 21 LGA chairmen who are also members of the non working committee.
February 25 Polls: We Were Robbed
The PDP non-working committee said the party was robbed in the state during the last general elections.
They argued that PDP members believe in a better Nigeria.
“We put in our efforts to save Nigeria from the stranglehold of APC but we were robbed.”
They expressed confidence that PDP will sweep the House of Assembly elections on March 11.
They alleged the ruling party is plotting to repeat the electoral heist foisted on Kogi electorate during Saturday elections. They alleged that APC is planning to disenfranchise voters by diverting election materials to private residences.
