By Musa Muhammad Alfat
.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in kogi state ,has vowed to defend its votes in the forthcoming local government election scheduled for October 19th,2024
The caretaker Chairman of the party, Chief Samuel Ranti Abenerni, disclosed this while presenting flags to the party’s flagbearers in Lokoja on Saturday
Abenerni ,who was the deputy governorship candidate during the last election said that the party organised its credible primary elections which paved the way for the emergence of credible candidates for the elections across the 21LGAs.
“We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that our teeming supporters participate in the elections.
“SDP is mobilising its supporters to participate in the elections, with focus on protecting votes and ensuring a peaceful process,” he said.
He appealed to the state electoral commission to ensure that it provides an enabling environment for all participating political parties towards free, fair, and credible elections.
“We demand equal opportunity from the commission for all contestants to participate without showing any bias.
“We also demand a transparent electoral process in addition to a peaceful atmosphere for the entire elections.
“The party has embarked on house-to-house sensitisation of its teeming supporters to come out en-mass and participate in the Oct. 19, local government elections across the 21 LGs,” he assured.
While urging supporters of the party to shun all forms of violence before, during, and after the elections, the Abenerni said the party would not tolerate any form of intimidation during the electoral process.
Responding to the emergence of a splinter group within the Party the chairman said that there was no division within its rank, contending that it had no faction.
In an interview with newsmen, Lokoja local government SDP Chairmanship candidate ,Hon Abdulrahman Idris Sofada said,
“Kogi SDP wishes to affirm that there is no faction in our party and declares the action by these individuals as mischievous and ill-advised,” he said.
He maintained further that after failing to scuttle the transparent primary elections as was their original plan, some individuals had resorted to subterfuge as a way of achieving the pre-determined end of causing confusion.
He said the group of individuals that announced themselves as candidates at a kangaroo flagoff held in Lokoja was mischievous, adding that by their actions, the group has attempted to create the impression that the party is factionalised.
In a similar development,the party caretaker chairman received a chieftain of PDP,Hon Yakubu Gowon to SDP.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of flags to the 21 SDP Chairmanship
