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  • Coalition takeover of NEC forceful, illegal, says sole ADC Reps member Abejide

    Coalition takeover of NEC forceful, illegal, says sole ADC Reps member Abejide

    The only African Democratic Congress (ADC) member in the House of Representatives, Hon Leke Abejide, has described what he termed as the attempted “forceful takeover” of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party by the coalition of politicians led by former Senate President David  Mark as illegal. 

    He also declared the coalition’s attempt to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election is “bound to collapse”.

    Abejide, a second-term serving lawmaker who represents Yagba East, Yagba West and  Mopamuro Federal Constituency, Kogi State, won his elections to the Green Chamber back-to-back in 2019 and 2023 on the platform of the opposition ADC. 

    He was also the governorship flag bearer of the ADC in the 2023 Kogi governorship election.

    Speaking during the meeting of “Critical stakeholders of the Leke Abejide political family” in Abuja at the weekend, he dissociated himself from the Coalition ADC and called on his supporters to join hands with him to “chase out marauders” from ADC.

    Participants at the meeting cut across party lines, including ADC, All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from across the three senatorial districts in Kogi State and other parts of Nigeria.

    Abejide said the meeting became imperative to clarify his status of party allegiance. 

    Amid recent calls on him by various groups of supporters in Kogi State to join APC and his sustained vocal support for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection in 2027, speculations were rife as to  whether he had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (,APC) or still in the PDP.

    He however affirmed that as the party’s lone and highest elective office holder, he remains a member of the “original ADC” in Kogi state and at the  federal level not what he termed as the “Kangaroo Coalition ADC “with the intent to seize the party”. 

    Abejide noted: “We shall join hands to chase out political marauders from People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other parties that have formed a coalition (in ADC). We have been watching their characters since they claimed to have joined ADC as a coalition, it is clear now that they came with a notion to hijack the party structures, suppress original members of the party, and want to use the party to achieve their aims and objectives which is dead on arrival”. 

    He added: “Their recent activities in Kogi state are a mockery of democracy, those who came through the window and back doors are now claiming to be leaders of ADC in Kogi state.  When we were nursing the party and maintaining the structures of the party both at the National level and in Kogi State,  where were they? 

    “It is evident that they destroyed their political parties and have come to ADC solely to achieve the same aim. We will not allow them to destroy ADC. On this premise, we shall seek legal actions by approaching the court of law, as the highest member of NEC to challenge the illegality of the so-called Interim National Working Committee”.

    Noting that while the normal procedure demands that the NEC meets to consider the resignation of members of the National Working Committee and new ones elected and ratified, in this instance “there was nothing as such at all”.

    Therefore, he said, “everything the so-called coalition has done is a nullity and thereby rejected by the original ADC members in Kogi state. There is going to be a new coalition of ADC, with other parties to support President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office. For the naysayers, they are only digging their political graves, as you will all go into political oblivion after 2027. We remain the original members of the African Democratic Congress”.

    A chieftain of APC, Chief John Fabola, said the meeting was a deliberate joint-action of supporters loyal to Abejide across party divides in Kogi state and beyond. 

    “He has said he is still in the APC like a rock of gilbralter. Any steps he decides to take further he will not hesitate to let us know. This is what he has made clear to us and I believe we understand that. He is the landlord of ADC, not only in Yagba Federal Constituency, Kogi State but at the federal level. The aim of the  coalition is to unseat President Bola Tinubu. We are here to ensure they did not succeed and they will not succeed,” he said. 

  • ADC hijacked by opportunists seeking personal gains — Rep Abejide

    ADC hijacked by opportunists seeking personal gains — Rep Abejide

    The highest elected official of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and member representing Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopa Moro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Hon. Leke Abejide, has raised the alarm that the party has been hijacked by individuals with selfish motives.

    Speaking during a televised interview monitored in Abuja, Abejide alleged that many of those joining the ADC are doing so not out of genuine commitment but for personal gain.

    According to him, their actions and body language suggest they have no real interest in the party’s vision.

    He maintained that former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola cannot claim leadership of the party unless proper structures are put in place.

    Abejide pointed out that the ADC’s constitution does not permit newcomers to assume leadership positions unless granted a waiver by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). He, however, stated that no such NEC meeting has been held to consider any waiver.

    “Chief Ralph Nwosu remains the authentic National Chairman of the ADC,” he declared.

    Lamenting the situation in his home state, Abejide said, “Even in my state, a PDP member is now claiming to be the leader of ADC, while I, the only elected official who has been with the party from the start, is still here.”

    He added, “A few years ago, if you mentioned ADC, people didn’t even know what it meant. Now, some people have rushed in with the intent to hijack it. But when someone enters a house to steal, they are often caught and thrown out. That’s exactly what I believe will soon happen.”

    “I don’t support the suit in court, but let us continue to watch. The tenure of Nwosu has not expired. I have been at this party since 2018. We met him as the National Chairman. He founded the party from the beginning, and everything was going on smoothly until they went for the national Convention in 2022 to elect a presidential candidate.

    “When they came back, there was the issue of somebody bribing and taking the ticket. According to them, the ticket should have gone to Kingsley Mughalu, and some people felt that the ticket was given to the wrong person as a result of financial inducement.

    “At the end of the day, the expectations of the party officials were not met, and they started fighting. It was when the fight broke out that they called for a new national chairman. When it became so tough, they went for another convention with INEC in attendance, and he was reelected along with his Exco members, and INEC has that record.

    “The takeover of the party with Senator David Mark as Acting Chairman is not in order. They are supposed to call an NEC meeting. I am a member of NEC, and nobody is higher than me. They are supposed to sit down with us and discuss how to hold a convention where they will resign legally.

    “The party Constitution says a new member of the party cannot hold any position, but you can get a waiver. We should have held an NEC meeting where it would have been discussed whether to give them a waiver. But there was no NEC meeting. What they did was done without following the law, which means they are building something on nothing, and that can collapse any day.

    “As far as I am concerned, Chief Ralph Nwosu is still the National Chairman and all his officials, and I don’t think INEC recognises any other person. All that they are doing is just in the air because they have not done the proper thing.

    “If they wanted to do the proper thing, they should have called for NEC so that people like us could be there and say whether we accept or not. If they give a ticket to anybody as it stands now, and the person wins the election, you just help your opponent to get into office.

    “For now, I stand on the solid rock of the former structure. Ralph Nwosu gave me a ticket to contest, and I won the election twice. I don’t recognise any interim, and that is why I have not attended any of their meetings, and I will not.

    “The people coming into this party destroyed what they were before. They are not new people, but have been around for years. How did they manage where they are coming from? They are coming to destroy this party, and you will see what will be the end.

    “Before now, not much was heard of the ADC, but we had peace and were moving well. In 2019, three of us were elected into the House of Reps, but others defected. In this Assembly, two of us came to the House, but one has defected.

    Read Also: Don’t take new ADC for granted, Rep member, Abejide warns APC

    “I am happy that my party is gaining momentum across the country, but let us do it the right way. We should call an NEC meeting to discuss how to restructure the party. Whoever wants to come in should do it the right way and not seek to join the party through the back door, get whatever you want, then dump it and go away.

    “The body language of those coming into the party is not to come and stay, but to use it as a vehicle to fight the President.

    “If we come to NEC, I will be fair to them if they will listen to me. We can form this coalition in support of the President.”

    On the suit filed by some members of the party, he said, “Those who are in court know why they are in court. For me I believe that those who came to ADC came for a purpose. It is not that they love the party genuinely, but looking for a platform to achieve their aims and objectives, and I think it might be tough for them.

    “Already, people are in court, and many other cases are still coming up. The way things are being done now, when you come and hijack structures, it is not everybody who will just give up the structures like that. I have not seen any new development yet, but I am still watching.” 

  • Leave Faleke out of divisive politics in Yagba, Abejide tells supporters 

    Leave Faleke out of divisive politics in Yagba, Abejide tells supporters 

    House of Representatives member representing Yagba East/West/Mopa-muro Federal Constituency of Kogi state, Hon. Leke Abejide has exonerated Chairman, House Committee of Finance, Hon. James Abiodun Falake of any divisive political manoeuvre in his constituency ahead of 2027 general elections.

    He counselled his supporters across the state to leave Faleke out of ongoing unhealthy politics in his constituency.

    Abejide while reacting to political comments allegedly linked to Faleke in a statement in Abuja said promoters of the divisive comments failed, as he would not be distracted from governance and how to better the lives of his constituents.

    Describing those behind the divisive political narratives ahead of the 2027 elections as political jobbers, Abejide expressed confidence that Faleke cannot be involved in such destructive politics. 

    He said: “Please and please leave Hon Abiodun Faleke out of this unhealthy politics some people started in 2024 December for an election that is still 2027 in Yagba Federal Constituency. 

    “I am very sure and confident Hon. Faleke did not send them to utter all those words credited to him that he sent them a message to deliver to Yagba. They are only using his name to curry favour to themselves. 

    Read Also: Reps member Abejide aligns development efforts with Tinubu’s Vision

    “Please forget about all the noise and let us concentrate on how the lives of our people will be better not politics of destruction some people started so early in 2024.

    “As for me I am only ready to face governance to alleviate the suffering of our people. My first budget for my second term has not even been executed and some people who have nothing to do except being a political jobbers will drag me into politics and distract me never!”

    The former governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) advised political stakeholders in the state to steer clear of actions that could disrupt progress and unity within the constituency.

    He reassured his constituents that he is focused on prioritizing the welfare of the people in Yagba Federal Constituency.

  • Requirements for joining Nigeria Customs Service beyond slip generation – Abejide

    Requirements for joining Nigeria Customs Service beyond slip generation – Abejide

    By Ralph Omololu Agbana, Lokoja 

    Member representing Yagba Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon Leke Abejide, has enjoined applicants of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to look beyond mere slip generated as there are future steps to be taken as required to be recruited. 

    According to the lawmaker, the public enlightenment on requirements for the proposed NCS  recruitment became imperative on his part, following “pressure” from applicants who mistook the generated slip as evidence of automatic qualification. 

     Abejide, in a statement to the 360 Federal Constituencies in the federation on Wednesday explained: “I am compelled to issue this statement to further enlighten Nigerians on the requirements for the proposed Nigeria Customs Service recruitment. This is due to the pressure I have received especially from people outside government around the country; those I know and most people I do not know trying to understand if the slip generated is what they need to be recruited. It is  certainly not, because there are further steps to be undertaken such as examination, fitness and medical examination.

    ” This is based on my experience over the past years. The process is not one step. Your application only indicates your intention to participate in the recruitment process as examination will still be written as aforementioned, and whoever passed shall be invited for further screening. 

    Read Also: Yagba Constituency needs urgent federal attention, says Abejide

    “Once the modalities of screening and recruiting of candidates are concluded, the management of NCS will make public the steps intending candidates should take in order to participate effectively and I will equally come to the public domain again to further broadcast it for all Nigerians to be fully aware and take the opportunities available. 

    “At the moment, nothing has been agreed upon as regards the modalities. However, please be aware that only applications process and the slip generated is not a guarantee for recruitment but just as evidence to show you have shown intention”.

  • Yagba Constituency needs urgent federal attention, says Abejide

    Yagba Constituency needs urgent federal attention, says Abejide

    House of Representatives member and Chairman, House Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide, spoke of the challenges confronting Yagba Constituency and legislative efforts being made to resolve them when he met its leaders in Abuja. Excerpts:

    Setting up of skills acquisition centres

    I mentioned it when I was speaking as a guest on Channels television sometime ago about the programmes that I have during my second term. I mentioned it that, for me, it is always an eyesore when ever i travelled home to Yagba and see how the youths always act in an unruly manner at public gatherings. Some people said they are not serious but to me, not all of them are not serious. I said if we put skill acquisition centres in place, we will be able to differentiate between the serious ones and the unserious ones. After identifying the serious ones that need help, let’s help them. That is my target, which I believe is not a difficult thing for me for me to do.

    Food Security

    The issue of tractors is a very good idea. It is also part of my programmes. I did a pilot test this year on a specific type of corn, it is growing now and there’s a particular land I am negotiating for; it is about 330 hectares, to start this mechanised farming system and I want to replicate it across Yagba Federal Constituency. Isanlu people have reached out to me, there’s a particular land I have gotten in Isanlu, so I am sending surveyors from the Federal Ministry of Works to measure it to know the number of hectares of land. When we know that, I am going to bring like 10 tractors. Not only to Isanlu alone, may be 10 in Yagba East, 10 in Yagba West, 10 in Mopamuro.

    11 years of black out in Yagba

     I was with the Minister of Power, Hon Adebayo Adelabu, we met at the Presidential  Villa. I was with the Chief of Staff when he came in, we discussed about the issue of disconnection from national grid that has crippled electricity supply in many communities in Yagbaland for some years now. I also met with the Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon Victor Nwokolo. I also invited the Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). We documented everything as it happened about the situation down from my axis (Yagba South East) down to Isanlu. So, last two weeks, immediately  I came back from London, I met again with the power minister and he specifically spoke about this electricity supply problem in Yagba East. It is also affecting some villages and towns under Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The IBEDC are complaining that they are not getting the required revenue from those places. The common problem the electricity companies pointed to is that those areas are not economically viable for them after all costs and benefits have been accounted for. Now that power is decentralised, it is not in the exclusive list like before, the minister suggested we take it up to seek alternative options. Now, there are some independent power companies coming. So, he has identified those areas and he is handing them over to the independent investors. They will not be operating under the AEDC. What they will be doing is that they will be paying royalty to AEDC, since they say they are the owners of the infrastructure. But these people will be the one to collect bills and give us electricity. The other option is ROA; this is a mini-grids for villages, so, I am going to work on them so that the minigrid system can give us light pending the time the minister is talking about. Mini-grids provide a cost-effective solutions, especially for low-income households in underserved regions.

    On human capital development

     Recall that during Buhari’s regime, the federal government placed embago on employment completely. Even when universities became short of lecturers, they had to apply for waivers from the office of the  Head of Service, which some did not get. Agencies that were short of staff went ahead and recruited people through the IPPIS but they were not paid salaries. But you see the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a people-friendly government. I know what I have gotten for my people in this government in terms of employment. Just last week, I was able to secure job for someone in a federal agency. We are doing a lot, as time goes on, the statistics will come out.

    Infrastructural development

    The issue of our roads. If you look at 2022 budget; that was the budget before the election, I put about 1bn on the road from Ilu-Hagba, I was trying to see how that bad road can be fixed bit by bit, but now that Senator Sunday Karimi has come, we started thinking about what can we do, alternatively. We are exploring the option of tax credit for Mangal Cement Company, since it has worked elsewhere. We habor them to mine our mineral resources and established factories, so, we should be able to ask them to fix our roads, based on tax holiday. I know the Managing Director of Mangal Cement Industries, Alhaji  Dahiru Mangal, he is my professional colleague, we knew each other way back in Kano. I put it to him, I said “you cannot just come to our side, take our resources away and leave the place to decay”. Because, if that happens, I forsee a day that our youths will come and block the road and ask them to stop production. The way Dangote Group came then to Obajana, the consciousness of our people was not this high.

    If you pass through Obajana, it will seem as if you are going through a war zone, which is wrong. We will not allow that to happen in this case of Ilu-Hagba, because you cannot do that in other places. We will support Mangal Cement Company but they must do the needful. Still on the road issue, if you look at the effort I am making at Igbagun axis, I have been doing the patching of that road, bit by bit. I started from Omuo-Oke-Ekiti to Igbagun. Now we are in Ponyan. But, now, because there are lots of farms along that road, I thought of it that the road from Igbagun to Ijowa, I want it constructed with asphalt lay. I went to the presidential villa and If you look at the amended budget, you will find the road there. There is N5.250bn there budgeted for asphalt lay of that road entirely down to Ijowa, no more patch-patch. The second phase, I am looking at the road from Egbe to Okunran-Okoloke-Isanlu-Esa. I will sit down with Senator Karimi, we will work it out together. Having the Senator from Yagba in the 10th National Assembly will make my work easier than my first term. And there is another phase from Jege, Ogbom, Ogga to Omi. That one is coming to burst out in Igbaruku-Okeri.

    Read Also: Group advocates zoning of Kogi West senatorial seat to Yagba East

    Kampe Dam Omi/HYPPADEC

    This issue of Omi Dam. During one of the sectoral debates we normally have in the House, the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun and the Minister of Agriculture, Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar, they came. I told them about Omi Dam, about the billions of Naira federal government funds spent to conduct that massive dam and it is not being utilized. And they said they will look at it to see if there’s need to reactivate it. I am talking of this year.

    Environmental degradation and ACRESAL Intervention Fund

    I am hearing it from you for the first time that Kabba-Bunu in Kabba-Bunu-Ijumu federal constituency was part of the communities picked for a massive ecological intervention funded through ACRESAL (Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape). Let’s us find out how we can leverage and get something from ACRESAL to Yagba. I believe we should all join hands together, it is not just the responsibility of those of us who are elected representatives to identify areas that we consider should be beneficial to our people. Your group can also do the findings to assist us.

    Insecurity

    The financial autonomy for  Local Governments will help us a lot because the councils will have enough funds to tackle the menace of insecurity, because that is the major problem Nigeria is facing now. Not just Yagba. The real problem we have are the armed herdsmen. By the time we clear a vast hectares of our lands, pay those bororos that bought our lands and collect our lands back from them and cultivate those lands, they will know that we are serious and that there is no place for them, anymore. It is because we are not utilising our lands that they think it is free. I have procured a brand new bulldozer for the purpose of clearing our bushes. Immediately after the local government elections, I will invite the three local government chairmen who are from my constituency, we will sit down with the governor, and tell them in the presence of the governor, the implications of not appropriating the money for the development it is meant for. I will let them know security is of utmost priority to our people. The kind of money they want to be giving the chairmen now, I will warn them, if you misappropriate the money, we will write petitions against you and you know you don’t have immunity. So I will ensure that much of our security problems will be solved by the time the monthly allocations start coming directly to the local government accounts. Even themselves, they need to make names for themselves. I will work with them and the Senator, to make sure our people return to farm without fear of insecurity. Farming is the only business our parents knew how to do best. How many people can get government jobs today in Nigeria? But there’s a lot of money you can make from the farm. Any of our youths who show seriousness and are interested in farming, we are going to do everything possible to support them. Another problem we are having is that some communities allow these Fulani miscreants to stay in their communities and they are large in numbers now. We must drive them away. Nobody is saying Fulanis are not Nigerian citizens with every right to choose where they want to stay and survive. But, if you are a Fulani man and you want to stay, you must be law abiding and not go beyond your boundary. I have discussed it with the governor. The governor is in support of what I am saying.

    Synergy with Senator Sunday Karimi

    Senator Karimi and I are working closely together. We used to be political opponents but right now we share a lot of things in common, we relate very well, not only as elected representatives alone but in areas of business. Even by the time we leave National Assembly, our friendship still continues. If we don’t relate, how can we bring development to our people? You are beginning to see a departure from the past when we were seen as political enemies, because now, he is going to bring in a lot of things, I am going to bring a lot of things, by the time you joined the two efforts together, the result you get is better outcomes; improved efficiency and productivity. I pray something that will come between us will not come. And the followers, once they can see that kind of boisterous relationship between us, there will be no room for them bringing negative talks. I pray peace will reign in Yagba and by extension, in Okunland.

  • Kogi decides: ADC’s Abejide wins Yagba East LGA

    Kogi decides: ADC’s Abejide wins Yagba East LGA

    By Rasaq Ibrahim, Lokoja

    The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Saturday, November 11, Kogi state governorship election, Leke Abejide won in his Yagba East local government area

    According to the result officially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abejide was declared the winner having polled 7,453 votes.

    The APC candidate, Ahmed Ododo polled 7,096 votes, PDP got 2,615 votes while SDP scored 312 votes.

    Below is the result:

    Registered voters: 53,436

    Accredited voters: 18,001

    APC: 7096

    SDP: 312

    PDP: 2615

    ADC: 7,453

    LP: 01

    NRM: 05

    Total valid votes: 17,649

    Rejected votes: 344

    Total votes cast: 17993

    There was a cancellation of votes in unit 002, Itodo Ward due to over-voting.

  • Kogi: Abejide promises local council autonomy

    Kogi: Abejide promises local council autonomy

    The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, Leke Abejide, has promised to ensure local government autonomy.

    He also promised to return the “lost glory” of the traditional institution in the state.

    Abejide promised to bridge infrastructure decay while also addressing the menace of flooding in the affected communities in Igalaland, Kogi East Senatorial District of the state, if elected governor.

    The ADC campaign train rolled into Idah, Ibaji, Ofu, Olamaboro and Ankpa councils in Kogi East Senatorial District at the weekend where the candidate canvassed  autonomy for the local government.

    Abejide paid a courtesy call on the Attah of Igala and Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs, Matthew Opaluwa, in Idah, Idah Local Council, and promised to tackle flooding and power failure.

    Read Also: Ekiti PDP will regain power in 2026, ex-commissioner blasts Fayose

    Speaking against the background of recent grading and upgrading of 300 traditional stools by Governor Yahaya Bello, the ADC candidate said he will halt the rudderless grading of traditional stools without the accompanying perks and incentives.

    He said that the system has lowered the image of the royal institution in the eyes of the public.

    Abejide noted that the anomalies can be partly addressed through granting autonomy to the local governments.

    He said: “Our administration would grant autonomy to the third tier of government, thus giving fresh breath of air to the people at the rural communities particularly at the grassroots, which would free the traditional institution from its present bondage.”

    Abejide assured that his commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people of Kogi State has been rekindled by the endorsement of his aspiration from across the sections in the state.

  • Kogi West leaders endorse Abejide

    Kogi West leaders endorse Abejide

    • Jemibewon: he is best candidate

    Kogi West Elders’ Forum (KWEF) yesterday endorsed African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Leke Abejide for the November 11 poll.

    The group led by former Police Affairs Minister Major General. David Jemibewon, said he was endorsed as a consensus candidate by the zonal elders because he is the best candidate.

    In a communique after its meeting,Jemibewon said Abejide’s endorsement was consistent with the district’s clamour for power rotation to Kogi West.

    He said the quest for power shift was fair and just, adding that its realisation will foster equity and unity in the state.

    Gen. Jemibewon recalled that the district had been shortchanged in the power-sharing arrangement that had frustrated its desire to occupy the State House. since the creation of Kogi State in 1991.

    He said: “Consequent to the above, the KWEF worked with other groups like the Okun Development Association (ODA) and Okun Think Thank( OTT)   with similar objectives and reinvigorated the mechanism for the demand immediately after INEC released the timetable for the election in early 2023. 

    Read Also: Kogi ADC candidate Abejide lists priorities

    “The forum consulted with critical stakeholders in the state and drew the public’s attention to the imbalance in the occupation of the office of the Executive Governor. At the same time, it called for correction by supporting a candidate from the West to win the election.

    ‘’To achieve this, the KWEF engaged with stakeholders in the state through its Contact and Mobilization Committee.”

    Jemibewon recalled that the group raised the issue of power shift with Governor Yahaya Bello, adding that it  also consulted other prominent political actors in the various parties.

    He also said the issue was discussed with President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the demand was in line with the democratic demand by people, tribes, and regions who have been denied power.

    Jemibewon said: “Responses the forum got from the Presidency reinforced our position that there was a need for the West to build the rank with the other two senatorial districts of East and Central to gain power in Kogi State.”

    He said following interactions with the candidates, it was discovered that three frontline candidates-Senator Dino Melaiye( PDP), Olayinka Braimoh (AA) and Leke Abejide( ADC)-came from Kogi West.

    Gen. Jemibewon said the three candidates were assessed based on their agenda for Kogi State, acceptability by  the three senatorial districts, spread and reach of campaigns, political experience, political appeal and popularity, and Internal party cohesion.

    He said that internal elections within the forum were held to supplement the work of the assessment committee.

    Jemibewon added:”Having gone through the stages of engagement and assessment of candidates and based on popular opinion, the highest-scoring candidate among the three frontline candidates in the West Senatorial District was  Elder Leke Abejide of the ADC.

    “Therefore, the forum endorses Hon Leke Abejide of the ADC as the consensus candidate for Kogi West Senatorial District in the November 2023 election. We hereby solicit for the support and cooperation of everyone in pushing through to victory the consensus candidate.

    “The appeal is most especially to the two Senatorial Districts of Central and East and in particular to the other two candidates from the Western Senatorial District who will remain as heroes at the end of success.”

  • Kogi ADC candidate Abejide lists priorities

    Kogi ADC candidate Abejide lists priorities

    African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Leke Abejide has promised to revolutionise the state through progressive policies and programmes.

    He visited Ogorimagongo Local Council at the weekend to woo monarchs, community and religious leaders.

    It was in continuation of his  statewide tour to explain his plans and assure the people of a better deal.

    Accompanied by his running mate, Idris Omede, and other prominent party members in Kogi Central Senatorial District, he promised not to let the people down.

    Read Also: Georgieva: IMF mediating to resolve debt crisis between debtor and creditor nations

    Addressing some traditional chiefs at the palace of the Uboro of Ogori, Prof Olu Akerejola, a former Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Chairman of the campaign council, Chief Shola Ojo, said the visit was to seek the blessings of the monarchs for Abejide’s governorship ambition and also to brief them about his plans for the state.

    He also called on the people of Ogorimagongo for the support for the actualization of power shift to Kogi West Senatorial District, 32 years after the creation of Kogi State.

     “The Igala held power for 19 years. Ebira has held power for the eighth year running. The Ebira also produced Governor during our days in the old Kwara State. In all of these the area presently known now as Kogi West has aligned with and supported our Ebira brothers. This is the time for somebody from Kogi West, what is right is right, justice is justice”.

     He said although Leke Abejide is not alone, as the zone also has Senator Dino Melaye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Olayinka Braimoh of the African Alliance (AA), the team presented in Abejide the best candidate because of  his unblemished records and his performance as a two-term member of House of Representatives, which he said he has surpassed his predecessors only in his first term. His performance during his first term , he stressed, served as the pathway to his reelection.

    In his remarks, Abejide, who, alongside his deputy and entourage worshipped at the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Diocese of Ogorimagongo, enthused that with the prayers and blessings received during the visit, and the warm reception of the Ogorimagongo people, “I can see clearly that our anticipated victory in the November 11 governorship election now stares us at the face and by the grace of God, we will get it”.

    He said his knowledge of the problems of the state, which he has been able to tackle with his God-given resources through his various empowerment programmes within his domain in Yagba federal Constituency. He noted that his empowerment programmes such as free WAEC fees for final year secondary schools pupils, widows empowerment and hospital bills of indigent patients started before he assumed political office. This and his numerous achievements after his election to the House of Representatives, such as construction of roada, purchase vehicles for first class, second class and third Class traditional rulers in Yagba federal Constituency, among others have prepared him for the task of replication at the state level thereby rescuing the entire state from its present state of socioeconomic dungeon.

     He said his payment of WAEC fees in six years, had been extended to Kabba-Bunu-Ijumu federal constituency with the hope of further extension to 21 local government areas of the state. However, he said the Yahaya Bello administration, in a decision propelled by political expediency declared free WAEC fees for SSS3 students, starting from November, which is election month. He said he wondered why  it took the Bello administration 7 years to consider payment of WAEC fees for public schools.

    He described Ogori has a place rich with arable land which can be transformed into economic benefits.

    “I made money from the farm, I was one of the major exporters of sesame seed in the country with partners in over 53 countries.

    I came from the private sector backgrounds with mindset of entrepreneurship. My running mate, Dr Idris Omede was President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, he was President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). This is the perfect team that the ADC has presented to Kogi people to lift the state out of dungeon”.

    Other places visited were the Juma’at Mosque, Magongo, palaces of Olu Magongo of Magongo and Chairmen, Ogorimagongo Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Oba Sam Bola Ojo, the palace of the regent of Olu of Ogori and Magongo Civil Centre, where Abejide and the campaign train addressed a mammoth crowd of supporters.

    Omede at the Magongo Central Mosque reminded his Moslem brethrens that Islam preaches peace, therefore he urged them to conduct themselves peacefully before and during the election. He enjoined them to come out on election day and vote en masse for the ADC as it is the only party trusted to deliver on its campaign promises to the electorate based on the antecedents of Abejide and himself.

    The monarchs in their various palaces thanks Abejide and his deputy and members of the campaign council for deeming it to visit them. The royal fathers prayed for the success of the ADC candidates at the polls. Urging peace among the political contenders, they were unanimous that the traditional institution lacked the authority to give political support, stressing that only God gives power and He gives to whom He deems fit.