***Tells Kogi people to keep safe, wait for Muri’s regime of peace, progress, wealth

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) national leadership has distanced the party in Kogi State from the malevolent activities and bogus plans of a mischievous group in Kogi State that labelled itself ‘SDP Stakeholders’ saying it is fake
This was contained in public Statement issued by the national secretary of the Party Dr.Olu Agunloye.

The statement Reads, “The attention of the national leadership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has been brought to the malevolent activities and bogus plans of a mischievous group in Kogi State that labelled itself “SDP Stakeholders.” It is fake.

“They are impostors comprising disgruntled elements with evil ploy to mislead the public by organising protests and demonstrations in the name of the SDP in support or against the declaration of Mr Usman Ododo as Governor-elect by INEC. This is a ruse. It is an unworthy gimmick intended to damage the integrity and standing of the Social Democratic Party.

“This so-called Stakeholder ploy is yet another calculated attempt to undermine the efforts of the Social Democratic Party and its ace Governorship Candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka to reclaim the stolen mandate.
“The National Chairman of our great party, acting on behalf of the SDP National Working Committee, has formally issued a categorical disclaimer on these reckless acts and their actors who can be traced to the doorsteps of the outgoing government of violence and tyranny.

“Indeed, our party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), is not satisfied with the conduct of the November 11, 2023, Kogi State gubernatorial election, especially in the Kogi Central Senatorial District. “The party is also not satisfied with the declaration of Mr. Usman Ododo as Governor-elect by INEC. As a responsible and disciplined political party, we officially protested in writing to INEC on 13 November 2023 demanding for a review within the seven-day window and later submitted an official petition to the Election Tribunal on 1 December 2023 seeking that the SDP be declared the winner of the election.
“Our party, SDP does NOT intend to stage any public protest or demonstration in respect of the Kogi election or against INEC. I can say authoritatively that the Kogi State Chapter of the SDP is intact, solidly behind their Governorship Candidate and completely in line with the National Headquarters of the Party.
“No groups or persons of the SDP in Kogi State will take to the streets as being done or planned by the insurrectionist counterfeit group which branded itself as “SDP Stakeholders.”

“The Kogi State Chairman, Hon Moses Peter has confirmed that no members of the Party in the State will demonstrate or have any plans to demonstrate or protest for whatever reasons. All news filtering out in respect of the stage-managed “SDP” protests point to the handworks of state-actors under the incumbent Government whose sole purpose is to discredit the Social Democratic Party. “This improper habit, however, is in the character of the outgoing government and a sign that the outgoing functionaries are jittery. Our main concerns are that the consequences of their inappropriate actions are causing great damages to the image of Kogi State as well as denting the integrity of Kogi people and, worse more, leading to loss of lives and properties.

“For clarity, it may suffice to briefly highlight the damages by state-actors and non-state actors in Kogi State under the leadership of Mr. Yahaya Bello, the Governor and Chief Security Officer of the State. First, they claimed that SDP did not exist in Kogi State.
“Then, they arranged for a horde of fake “members of SDP” to decamp from the “non-existent SDP” to APC. Next, they publicly announced that the SDP Governorship Candidate, Alh. Muratala Ajaka was banned from entering Kogi State to campaign, and on 3 June 2023, they forcefully and brutally prevented him and his entourage from entering Lokoja.
“They damaged his cars, shot at his entourage, and almost killed him. Alh Ajaka sought redress at the courts, and the Federal High Court gave judgement that ordered Governor Yahaya Bello to N500 million as costs and give a public apology to Alh Ajaka for his (Bello’s) unruly, unconstitutional, and life-threatening actions.

“It is this same set of state actors under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr. Yahaya Bello that organised phoney groups that gleefully announced at a press conference that SDP failed to submit any petition to the Election Petition Tribunal and when they found that SDP did submit a valid petition, gunmen in familiar SUVs and Hilux vans swiftly attacked the Tribunal and carted away all the documents and petitions submitted, including that of SDP.
“Now that the Tribunal shifted its base from the violence prone Lokoja to Abuja and made it clear that authentic copies of any stolen or missing petitions would be used, the same state actors and their collaborators have resorted to stage-managing fake SDP rallies and demonstrations.

“Finally, let me assure the public that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is well aware that the current public nuisances and shenanigans bordering on outright criminality in Kogi State will not abate until the predator lions in power find their inglorious exit which will be sooner than later.
“Therefore, while the law enforcement agents battle the subsisting dangerous infractions in Kogi State by the outgoing lions of dishonour, we advise the public to pay attention to details to enable them separate the wheat from the chaff and, most especially, to take adequate measures to keep safe as they await Alhaji Muritala Ajaka’s regime of peace, progress and wealth.”

Dr Olu Agunloye,
National Secretary, SDP.