Impostor decamped to APC not me – Kogi ADC Chairman Adoji

Despite rumours to the contrary, Kogi State ADC Chairman John Adaji has not defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adaji dismissed the report as false while speaking to a crowd of supporters at a campaign rally in Okehi and Adavi Local Government on Saturday.

Adaji urged the public to disregard the article, claiming the ADC did not disband its organisation to make way for another political party.

In his own words, Adoji declared, “I stand here before you live and direct, that I am the authentic Chairman of the ADC in Kogi State.” It’s impossible for you and our gubernatorial candidate, Elder Leke Abejide, to both lead the ship at the same time. I also confirmed that the ADC architecture is sound. That so-called ADC Chairman who has now defected to the APC has long since been kicked out of that organisation.

Adoji claimed that an expelled party member was spreading the rumours, saying, “The impostor, who is behind the fake news, had been suspended by the executives of ADC at his Ogga/Omi/Odo-Ara ward in Yagba West LGA for anti-party actions and theft of funds.

The ward committee approved his suspension, which was then transmitted to the local government committee, which approved it, and finally to the state working committee, which approved it, which approved it, and finally to the national working committee, which approved it. After that, in October of last year, he was kicked out of the party,” he said.

In addition, Adagu Suberu, a former Chairman of Okehi local government and the current Director General of the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) campaign council for the governorship race between Leke Abejide and Idris Omede, said that the ADC leadership in Kogi State is made up of defectors from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said that the uprising was a just response to the government’s anti-people policies, such as its refusal to pay local government employees and elementary school teachers a living wage.

The Igala ruled for 19 years, but God’s plan saw the transfer of power to Ebiraland and the birth of Yahaya Bello in 2015. He campaigned for reelection in 2019 and successfully secured it. In 2023, our brothers in Kogi West have earned the right to rule. However, I stopped being a staunch supporter of the APC when you chose another Ebira candidate. Next Kogi State governor will be from Okun. Leke Abejide lokan, Okun lokan.”

‘Ebiras are not avaricious by nature. The Okun and the Ebira share a similar culture. As far as I am aware, our Western and Central leaders sat down and reasoned together that allowing each region equal access to authority would lead to more balanced growth.

We have no need to arm ourselves with deadly blades. It is possible to have a peaceful transfer of power. This is typical of states undergoing a peaceful transition, he said.

Leke Abejide, the ADC candidate for governor, has said that, if elected, he will reverse the civil service screening exercise begun by the Yahaya Bello administration.

He explained that this was done so that wrongfully terminated employees might return to their former positions with the government and get back pay in full.

Several government workers in Kogi State have committed suicide or fallen ill as a direct result of the inhumane practise of only paying 17-25 percent of their salaries on time. My initiative to provide free WAEC fees to schools in five LGAs, which I launched six years ago, will be expanded to include public schools in all LGAs across the state,” he stated.