The Kogi East Elders Committee on Monday unveiled and presented Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) as the Kogi East consensus Candidate to the Kogi people for the 2023 gubernatorial election billed for the 11th November, 2023.
The SDP candidate Alhaji Muritala Ajaka was inveiled at an elaborate ceremony in Abuja on Monday at Chida Hotel
The senatorial district which had dominated the political leadership of the State fir a couple of years lost out in November 2015 when Prince Abubakar Audu who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) died while coasting to victory and was replaced by Alhaji Yahaya Bello who inherited his votes and is now the incumbent Governor.
The ruling party had chosen another kinsman of Governor Bello from the minority Kogi Central as its candidate for the November 2023 governorship election.
Apparently piqued by what they described as the audacity of the minority tribe to sideline the majority in the state, the Kogi East Elders Forum swung into action to narrow the contest for coveted seat of power from the zone through a concensus to produce one candidate that will be acceptable to all.
The chairman of the forum Architect Gabriel Aduku who unveiled Ajaka called on all other candidates to rally round Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka for the sake of the entire State to ensure his victory at the poll.
“We plead with the other candidates to collapse their Structures to close ranks with the concensus and work together to achieve the desired aim to rescue Kogi State.
“By this endorsement, all Citizens of Kogi State are invited to take up the Candidacy of Alhaji Muntala Ajaka as a collective project.
According to him, the situation of Kogi State, particularty Kogi East in the past eight years to Say the least, has been a sad commentary which has placed State in a steepfalling state.
“The zeal by many to revamp this backward trend has led many candidates to throw their hats into the ring to contest for the State’s November 11, 2023 governorship election. “Unfortunately, the multiplicity of candidates vying for the governorship positon on different political platforms, presented a huge challenge for the stakeholders of Kogi East if a candidate from the zone is to emerge victorious.
“In the face of this challenge, Ukomu Igala Organisation set up a committee towards the end of 2022 to address the problems of Kogi East political backwardness and streamline the number of candidates contesting for the governorship position in the State.
“Before long, we were joined by Igala/Bassa Relief and Development Initative.
“Kogi East Eiders Council, Igala Elders Consultative Forum, Ojuju Agbadufu, Igala in Focus, Political Critical Stakeholders and over 40 platform participants joined us in the search for a consensus candidate. Candidate “The Committee started by interacting with the various aspirants on the 29” of March 2023, on the 4° and 11™ of April, 2023 respectively with the aim of making them to understand what was at stake.
“Thereafter, the Committee issued a preliminary report before the primary elections in different political parties and suggested that the process for a consensus Candidate, could only be addressed among candidates who are able to secure their parties tickets,
“Our Committee found that all the candidates are ably qualified however, only one candidate will occupy the seat.
“Following the conclusion of the political parties primary elections and the subsequent release of INEC list of candidates who emerged their party flag bearers, the engagement with the candidates continued and we received recommendatons from over 40 groups and associations of Kogj East extraction of their preferred candidates.
“We also examined certificates of the candidates and likely encumbrances to the best of our abilities. We are happy to report that all the canddates met the basic lawful Jequirements. The Committee went on further consultations with other critical
stakeholders from across Kogi East grass roots and interacted with atizens from other senatorial zones.
“The candidates were encouraged to interact among themselves with the purpose of agreeing on a candidate to present. The candidates met several times and requested that they be given up to 9” June to present their report.
“Only yesterday 11™ June, 2023, the Committee received report of five among the Nine candidates who stepped down for Alhaji Muntala Yakubu Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP).”
He said while the process lasted, the Committee was not unaware of the high expectations of Kogi citizens to pick a consensus winning candidate “but we kept appealing for calm and patence to enable us conclude the process objectively in line with the people’s desires.
“We wish you well and sincerely pray for you to succeed in accordance with objectives of government and governance run with good intentions.
“It is however necessary to note that the success of a leader or any one bestowed with trust such as the one conferred on our Committee does not occur when he does his own will, but when he fulfills the desires and yearnings of the people he presides over. According to Arch Aduku who is also the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum the Committee having carefully examined the candidate’s capacities, popularity/acceptability, network and in consideration of the various recommendations and reports received from the grassroots have chosen SDP candidate as its concensus candidate for the November 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election