- Accuse Kingsley Ogga, John Adaji of Anti-party Activities
Member of the State Working Committee of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi East senatorial district has described the purported suspension of the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Hon Leke Abejide and his running mate, Dr. Idris Omede, as laughable and an insult taken too far.
Addressing a press conference in Anyigba on Wednesday, the State Women Leader of ADC, Mrs Deborah Maji, said Abejide and Omede are reputable leaders who made the party what it is today in Kogi state.
She recalled that when the report of suspension first surfaced, the State Secretary of the party, John Adaji, promptly issued a disclaimer dissociating himself from the statement, adding that it his sudden volte-face is suspicious.
“While it is on record that the state Secretary widely and openly signed a disclaimer release on the suspension of Hon Leke Abejide, what suddenly had happened or transpired that a formal meeting which was advertised but didn’t hold in advertised venue, yet the attendance was fraudulently brandished as a reflection of at the press brief upholding the suspension amongst other new suspension.
“The dishonest and dishonorable behavior is quite unfortunate, in which five party members including our highly respected and valuable Dr. Omede Idris, were suspended. The party leadership should be wary of these party officers and not be allowed to drag the party to needless problems,” she stated.
Mrs. Maji revealed that the press briefing address by the Kingsley Ogga and John Adaji was a fraudulently contrived event.
“A duly signed and circulated invitation to an Expanded State Working Committee and 21 LGA Chairmen of African Democratic Congress (ADC) meeting was sent directly and placed on Party WhatsApp platform by the State Secretary of ADC Mr John Adaji Udale to hold on Monday 4th August 2025 at Lily Grand hotel Lokoja, Kogi state at 10am.
“A written attendance was taken at the venue, and surreptitiously taken away by the conveyor that brought attendance paper. The Chairman and Secretary were never seen.
“Some of the invited party members waited patiently within and outside the venue for the arrival of the Chairman, Secretary and other officers. This never occurred.
“That press conference has no iota of truth. It was a make belief, totally the widest imagination and misrepresentation by those two officers of the party and those that were with them. It is the height of mischief, meant to deceive party members, leaders and the public.
“None of the members of the State Working Committee SWC and LGA chairmen who signed attendance were anywhere at the venue of the said press conference, neither was there any prior meeting with the invited participants. Thus, the Press conference cannot and is not a reflection of any meeting held. The content of the press conference is therefore fraudulent and a great mischief.
“That said press conference is not only playing on members and the public intelligence, but it is quite insulting and gross misinformation. These are total fabrication without truth to smear the reputable status these personalities have attained in various spheres of life. They are false, bile stained, unnecessary venom of ill- will and hatred. Subjecting these persons to any committee of the party is indeed laughable, inappropriate, misplaced and indeed an unfortunate wish by the perpetrators,” she said.
The Women Leader said it was Hon Leke Abejide that popularized ADC in Kogi state and for the first time, the party was on the INEC governorship ballot for the 2023 Governorship election.
“This is the first in Kogi state since 1999 or the 4th Republic that the party has gone that far. Dr. Omede Idris, since joining the party and running the same ticket with Hon Leke Abejide, has been quite supportive to the party and her members especially in Kogi East senatorial zone. Is this how to build a party to win elections, by tactically and unintelligently chasing and pushing away old members because of new found members and new relationship?,” she asked.
Mrs. Maji accused both Ogga and Adaji of anti-party activities during the last governorship elections in Kogi state.
“For the records, the then 2022 suspended ADC state chairman, Hon. Kingsley Temitope Ogga, now reinstated under coalition ADC and the then 2022 Acting ADC State Chairman, Hon John Adaji Udale, now reverted back as state Secretary, should not throw wool into our eyes. It was a common knowledge that both of them did anti- party in the Kogi 2023 Governorship election. The former did APC, while the latter did SDP. Even now, we have no doubt that their loyalty is hanging on a balance, by their characters and antecedents, if we must tell the truth.
“He wants to come to equity, must come with cleans hands. The chairman and Secretary hands are not clean. Therefore, the fraudulent conferment of vote of confidence on themselves is null and void and of no effect. They must not be taken serious. We know them too well,” the women leader asserted.
Mrs. Maji called ADC to institute disciplinary action of these officers for misleading the party and bringing the party to disrepute.
