By John Akubo.
A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for the House of Representatives, Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala federal constituency, Deputy Commissioner of Police (rtd) Aurelius Yusuf Adejoh has indicated that the impunity and imposition which was the hallmark of the party that made that cost it 2015 governorship election in Kogi State has been upgraded in the build up to the 2019 election.
Speaking recently at his official declaration to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with over 2,000 supporters in his country home of Adeh in Olamaboro local government area of Kogi state, Adejoh said just like the “leopard does not change its spot”, the party has perfected its rascality in trampling on the will of the people.
He said he was moved to return to PDP which he was one of the founding members when they promised to jettison their old ways of impunity, imposition of candidates for participatory democracy where the choice of the people would be respected.
He said having worked for late APC candidate in the State, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the 2015 governorship election, who later gave up the ghost at the verge of his being declared winner the party was in disarray.
According to him, they thought naturally Hon. Abiodun Faleke should been allowed to inherit the votes but the party thought otherwise by nominating the second runner up who is now the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello.
However, he observed that the supreme court verdict on 16th November, 2015 settled all the wrangling as the court confirmed Bello as the Governor.
However, he said based on principle he remained with the ideals of Audu/Faleke group as the party could not reconcile aggrieved members even after the prince Tony Momoh committee submitted their report on Kogi APC.
“In fairness to Governor Bello, he made efforts to reach out to the Audu political family in terms of overtures which was not taken,” he said.
Hence he said they were at a crossroad as Faleke had returned to Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos through which he went to the House of Representatives twice.
Again, he said the first son of late Audu had gone to PDP, so the rest of them who were followers of Audu had no option but to return to PDP.
According to him the impunity exhibited by the PDP in the primaries has made him to have a rethink as he can not blindly remain in a place where his interest is not protected.
He said the PDP that he joined is not a party that accommodates his interest hence he has no reason not to return to where I belong which is the APC.
“After the national convention of PDP on 9th September, 2017, the chairman that emerged, Uche Secondus apologized on National Television that they were renouncing the havoc they caused by their vindictive politics of imposition and impunity, that they will not go back to their old ways. We believed that they were sincere so we returned to the party.
“So with the unresolved crises in the APC then between Bello and the Faleke group we say let us give them a trial. Unfortunately when the primaries of the party came up, instead of improving, it became worse than before.
“Nobody can deny the fact that I contributed to the success of APC and I believe that there is no fundamental difference between Audu and Governor Bello as the ticket of APC was an indivisible ticket that we worked hard for,” he said.
He said when the primaries of PDP came up, instead of improving, it became worse than before 2015 when the PDP senatorial primaries took place in Idah and the senator representing Kogi East Attai Aidoko destroyed the ballot papers declared himself winner.
“The battle was fought up to the Supreme Court where it was alleged that Isaac Alfa was the winner but as we talk he has remained outside the hallowed chambers of the senate while Aidoko is still there in the National Assembly.
“The same Aidoko who has never won election 2011, who has perpetually installed himself with the help of the courts is still there.
“The last primaries tbat was to take place on the 2nd October, 2018, no electoral material were brought to Idah but by fiat Uche Secondus declared Aidoko as the senatorial candidate after selling the nomination form of N2.5m to over 10 aspirants.”
He said the PDP national chairman declared openly that over his dead body would any other person outside Aidoko get the ticket.
“So if you are talking of paricitapatory democracy that peoples votes will count, that the peoples voice would be considered in arriving at results then that is not the right place I should belong.”
According to him, there was no personal issue between him and the Governor Yahaya Bello group, rather he said it was based on principle.
“That done I did not need to search further to know where to go, where the interest of my people would be taken care of and that is why I have taken this decision.
“For now based on what is on ground the difference between APC and PDP in Kogi State is more than seven up. There is nothing to ponder when it comes to rational decision and rascality of the highest order.”
