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The leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State has declared the immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, as its standard bearer for the November 11 gubernatorial election in the state.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the State Secretary, Dr. Arome Okeme and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Monday.
According to Okeme, the state chapter of SDP completed the process of substitution of its candidate in a primary election held on May 20, 2023, to fulfill the requirements of the electoral act.
He added that the rerun primary of May 20, invalidated the candidature of Alhaji Sheik Ibrahim Jibril, and instituted Ajaka as the substantive candidate of the party for the forthcoming governorship election.
Part of thehe statement reads:
“The primary election witnessed the turnout of the electoral umpire, security operatives and gentlemen of the press who graced the occasion in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
“After votes were cast and the result announced, where out of the over 600 delegates present, over 95% cast their votes in favour of Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka.
“Barrister Joseph Achille Abu, the National Organising Secretary, who doubles as the Electoral Committee Chairman, announced the result to the jubilation and excitement of party members, stakeholders and well-wishers alike.
“With this development, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, having satisfied all the requirements by the party and electoral body, is poised to be heralded and hoisted as the party’s duly elected candidate by INEC in the coming days or weeks.
“It is safe to say that kogites are about to witness a new dawn of leadership that is purposeful, calculative, coordinated, passionate and result-oriented,”
Also, the state chairman of the party, Hon. Moses Peter, appreciated party members and people of the state for their continued support, stressing that they should keep date with the SDP in the governorship election.
Ajaka, who was disqualified from contesting the APC governorship primary, resigned as a member of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on May 17.