The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has come forward to express its concerns regarding what it perceives as nefarious actions by the Kogi State government aimed at disrupting the campaign of Hon Elder Leke Abejide, the ADC Governorship candidate for Kogi State. The party alleges that agents of the state governor have been actively engaged in efforts to undermine their campaign, including disrupting party activities and harassing campaign members with unfounded accusations.
Despite these challenges, the ADC emphasizes its commitment to upholding the rule of law and continues its campaign efforts by the constitution. The party asserts that sensitization, mobilization, and familiarization activities have been carried out with utmost diligence.
However, the situation has escalated to the point where the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels have had to intervene discreetly to rescue and support their members and volunteers who faced threats and harassment. This compelled the ADC to issue a public statement as the government agents allegedly went a step further by threatening to arrest Hon Leke Abejide on fabricated charges.
According to the ADC, these agents initiated legal actions, even involving the Department of State Security Services (DSS), to detain Hon Leke during the election campaign. However, the allegations reportedly collapsed when Hon Leke reported the case to higher-ranking officials within the agency.
The ADC claims to have credible information from government insiders that various court cases, including those in magistrate courts, have been orchestrated to imprison their candidate and disrupt his campaign. Hon Leke Abejide, known for his track record of performance and development within his constituency, is positioned as the leading candidate for the upcoming election.
In response to these developments, the ADC is urging the National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector General of Police (IGP), and Director General of State Security Services to intervene and ensure a free and fair contest in the election. The party stresses that it has exercised restraint to avoid further tensions in the state, emphasizing Hon Leke’s commitment to peace.
The party also highlights the involvement of Mr. Kingsley Ogga, the former chairman of ADC Kogi State who was sacked and is now allegedly acting as a proxy for Governor Yahaya Bello. The ADC clarifies that Mr. Ogga is no longer a member of the party and urges the people of Kogi State to disregard him.
Furthermore, the ADC extends an invitation to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assist in promoting peace in Kogi State as the governorship election approaches. Despite the challenges, the ADC remains resolute in its mission to bring about positive change and transformative leadership in Kogi State.
The ADC asserts that Hon Leke Joseph Abejide is a man of peace and calls upon all Kogians to join him in fostering peace and unprecedented development in the state.