The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Kogi State, Captain Idris Ichala Wada, has cleared the air of controversy surrounding his membership of the party.
In an interview with a national newspaper, Wada claimed he has joined the party alongside his family members since 2005.
“Let me state very clearly that I am an authentic member of PDP, I joined the party in 2005 with members of my family. I didn’t join alone, if you look at the register, my name is there, my brother’s name is there, my wife’s name is there, my sister’s name is there, my sister was a councillor in my local government, Dekina local government area, we joined the same day, nobody questioned our membership then. It is because of the level I have decided to come out publicly in the party that there is now mudslinging” he said.
“The register was seized by force by the former Chairman of Dekina local government council, he collected the register of the 12 wards in Dekina, not only Odu1 where I come from; this was in their misguided belief that I am not a member of the PDP and they thought that by seizing the register and photocopying it and throwing in some manipulation they could deceive the public. I am a loyal and committed member of PDP, it is the level of the waves which my candidacy has generated that has led some of these detractors to make such fabrication and mudslinging and at the appropriate time, I will seek legal redress to clear my name.”
“Let me say one thing, the original register through the work of the security agencies has now been retrieved and is with the leadership of PDP in our state.
When I presented myself for screening in Lafia ahead of the last primary election, they checked my card, the two cards I have, the old and the updated cards, the screening panel was satisfied that I was an authentic member of PDP; they would never have cleared me if they discovered I am not qualified.”
