Kogi PDP crisis deepens as group accuses party of illegality

Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State have accused the party leadership of perpetuating illegality by allegedly imposing Enemona Anyebe, a member disqualified by the court from contesting the chairmanship position during the party’s delegate election held in August this year.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Lokoja on Saturday, Muhammad Sani Gambo, who was the runner-up in the said Kogi State PDP Congress, stated that the group seeks justice, equity, and fairness.

Gambo said, “This press conference has become very necessary towards salvaging our party from imminent collapse and the landmines of illegality and impunity that the purported chairmanship of Hon. Enemona Anyebe is about to cause the PDP.

“Let me quickly state that his purporting to be the Chairman of Kogi PDP is not only criminal, but it has also made the PDP a laughing stock among the comity of civilised people in Nigeria.

“This must not be allowed to happen because the imminent breakdown of law and order may also be inherent if he is allowed to continue to assume what he is not.

“The crude manner jointly masterminded by Hon. Enemona Anyebe and his sponsors to take over, through military style, the leadership of PDP in Kogi State leaves much to be desired.

“This is even more worrisome as Kogites, Nigerians, and the world look up to the PDP at this moment to salvage Nigeria from the precipice of outright destruction. Unfortunately, it is surprising that these haters of democracy are trying to undermine the will of the PDP members in Kogi State.”

Gambo stressed the importance of fairness, justice, and equity in the conduct and activities of the PDP, particularly as an opposition political party. He stated, *”We are a country and people guided by the rule of law, and the time to call a spade a spade, no matter whose ox is gored, is now in Kogi State.”

He recalled that the last PDP State Congress in Kogi was free and fair, with the outcome accepted by all contestants except for the position of State Chairman. A court order had barred Anyebe from contesting or presenting himself for screening. Gambo added that the party had been directed not to screen Anyebe, as the court ruling was yet to be vacated before the Congress, and it remains so to date.

Gambo noted that Anyebe, who was previously suspended by the party’s local government executives in 2019, affirmed by the state executives, and again by his ward executives in 2024 for anti-party activities, now presides over the affairs of the party in the state.

He questioned how Anyebe could have become the state’s party chairman when his nomination form was withdrawn by court order under Suit No. HC/OKP/54M/2024 of the Kogi State High Court.

He added, “We are also aware that Hon. Enemona approached a Kogi State High Court with prayers to vacate the court order via Motion Nos. HCL/372M/2024 and HCL/379M/2024 respectively, but his appeals were dismissed.”

When contacted, Enemona Anyebe, the accused person, promised to respond to the correspondent but stated that he was currently in transit.