…Questions Legitimacy of Elders Council, Accuses Group of Opportunism and Attempted Manipulation of Party Process
A fresh wave of intra-party confrontation has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, as prominent party stakeholder Michael Samuel Idoko has issued a scathing and uncompromising rebuttal to the recent condemnation of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the self-acclaimed Kogi East PDP Elders Council.
Idoko, a 15-year card-carrying member of the PDP and a long-standing grassroots mobilizer, described the elders’ statement as “a disgraceful exhibition of political desperation, laced with falsehood, entitlement, and calculated mischief.”
Reacting to the widely circulated declaration titled “You Can’t Decide Our Fate!”, Idoko opened his response with a blunt challenge to the identity and authority of the group.
“First of all, who exactly are these PDP elders? Who is Alhaji Ibrahim Dansofo in the constitutional structure of our great party?” Idoko queried sharply. “The PDP is not governed by faceless individuals who suddenly assemble under the guise of ‘elders’ whenever there are political spoils to be negotiated.”
“Seasonal Political Merchants, Not Elders”
In a tone that left little room for ambiguity, Idoko accused the group of being nothing more than “seasonal political merchants” whose primary interest lies in exploiting aspirants.
“Let me be unequivocal: these individuals are allegedly habitual opportunists—political middlemen who resurface during election cycles to position themselves as power brokers, only to extort, manipulate, and defraud unsuspecting aspirants under the pretense of influence,” he declared.
He further alleged that their outrage was neither organic nor principled, but rather sponsored.
“Their sudden activism is not driven by love for PDP or Kogi East; it is allegedly bankrolled by desperate interests who fear a level playing field. This is not leadership, it is political racketeering dressed in borrowed robes of elder statesmanship.”
Defense of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Idoko mounted a vigorous defense of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissing claims that her visit to Idah and engagement with stakeholders amounted to interference.
“Senator Natasha’s presence in Kogi East is not a crime, nor is it an act of imposition. She is a ranking member of the PDP and a duly elected representative within the same political family. Her outreach should be commended as a unifying effort, not distorted into a phantom crisis.”
He argued that the attempt to regionalize party engagement undermines the very foundation of a national political party.
“Those pushing this dangerous narrative that Kogi Central cannot interact politically with Kogi East are essentially advocating for division and fragmentation. That is not PDP. That is political ignorance elevated to propaganda.”
On Zoning and Selective Amnesia
Addressing the controversy surrounding the Kogi East Senate ticket, Idoko pointedly accused the so-called elders of selective silence during critical party decisions.
“Where were these loud voices when the party’s zonal leadership, alongside duly recognized executives, undertook the zoning of positions? Where was their moral outrage then?” he asked.
He maintained that the zoning arrangement is clear and should not be subject to manipulation.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: the Senate position, as structured within the party’s internal framework, is zoned to Idah Federal Constituency. Any attempt to distort this reality is an affront to due process and an insult to the intelligence of party members.”
Rejection of ‘Imposition’ Narrative
Idoko dismissed the allegation that Senator Natasha was attempting to impose a candidate, describing it as “a lazy fabrication designed to incite unnecessary tension.”
“Endorsement is not imposition. Political support is not dictatorship. What these individuals fear is not interference but irrelevance in a process they can no longer control.”
A Stern Warning
In one of the most forceful segments of his response, Idoko issued a direct warning to the group regarding their repeated attacks on the Senator.
“I will advise, in the strongest possible terms, that they desist from dragging the name of Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan through the mud. Political disagreement does not justify reckless slander or coordinated character assassination.”
He continued:
“If they have legitimate grievances, there are established party mechanisms to address them. Resorting to public theatrics and inflammatory rhetoric only exposes their lack of substance.”
On Alleged Sponsorship and Hidden Agendas
Idoko further alleged that the so-called elders are acting on behalf of a particular aspirant.
“It is an open secret that certain interests are allegedly financing this campaign of calumny. Let it be known: no amount of sponsored outrage will overturn established zoning arrangements or hijack the democratic will of party members.”
Final Position: “PDP Is Bigger Than Any Clique”
Concluding his response, Idoko called for discipline, unity, and adherence to party structures, while firmly rejecting what he described as attempts to hijack the party.
“The PDP is bigger than any clique of self-appointed elders. It is a democratic institution governed by rules, not by noise or intimidation. Those who cannot operate within this framework should not pretend to be its custodians.”
“Kogi East PDP will not be reduced to a marketplace where political traders bargain for influence. The era of manipulation is over. The party must move forward with clarity, legality, and integrity.”
As tensions deepen within the Kogi PDP, Idoko’s hard-hitting response has significantly escalated the debate, drawing clear battle lines between entrenched interests and emerging forces within the party’s internal dynamics.
