By Ayomide Otitoju
The embattled Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Moses Oricha, has reaffirmed his position as the party’s authentic leader, stating that his tenure remains valid until 2026.
Oricha dismissed the purported congress held last Wednesday as illegitimate, describing it as a “kangaroo” assembly orchestrated by impostors who are neither recognized by the party nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Speaking to journalists in Lokoja on Friday, he emphasized that he was duly elected in April 2022 for a four-year term, in accordance with the SDP constitution.
“To the best of my knowledge, only Muritala Ajaka, our party’s candidate in the last governorship election, and his running mate, Ranti Abenemi, defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), respectively, to our party. The records are there for anyone to verify,” Oricha stated.
He challenged those claiming leadership positions to provide proof of their SDP membership. “As the custodian of the party’s records, I can confirm that their names are not in our register. The same register is with INEC, and they do not appear as SDP members. They are simply impostors attempting to outmaneuver us,” he asserted.
Oricha urged those involved in the disputed congress to follow due process if they wish to join the SDP, instead of resorting to what he termed backdoor tactics. “It is only thieves who enter a house through the back,” he remarked.
Reaffirming his legitimacy, Oricha reiterated that he had been a member of the SDP since 2014 and had served as the party chairman in Ajaokuta Local Government Area before assuming leadership of the Chairmen’s Forum in Kogi Central.
He also listed individuals allegedly involved in the disputed congress, stating that they had neither resigned from their previous political parties nor registered as SDP members. These individuals include Ahmed Attah (Chairman), Yusuf Agomi Ojapa (Deputy Chairman), Alhaji Idris A. Sofada (Secretary), Emife Ronke Mercy, Zakaria Buhari, Dugbanya David, and Adutu Ojomebyo David, among others.
The crisis within the Kogi SDP continues to unfold as party members and stakeholders await further developments.
