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All is not well with the ward congresses by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi state as executives of Abuga-Ozuga, the largest ward in Okene local government area, said the outcome may lead to electoral loss in 2019.
In a protest letter sent to Governor Yahaya Bello, the 26-man executives alleged that members of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have hijacked the party from founding APC members.
The Abuga-Ozuga ward executives lamented that they have not benefited from their efforts to bring about ‘change’ in Kogi state. They alleged that dividends of democracy had continued to elude them and other founding members of the party.
In the letter, the executives and stakeholders alleged that Gov. Bello had earlier directed that the loyalists be retained but some Lokoja-based politicians did otherwise, allotting ward executive positions to ‘strangers’.
They warned that the party stand the risk of losing next elections if the executives are disposed of. However, the Managing Director of Kogi ADP, Mr Oyisi Okatahi, who hails from Abuga-Ozuga ward, has appealed to the stakeholders.
He urged them to remain calm as he has escalated the problem to Governor Yahaya Bello. He stated that lack of internal democracy and injustice was dividing the party but a solution will be worked out.
Abuga-Ozuga ward has the largest number of registered voters in Okene local government, the home of Gov. Bello.