Days After El-Rufai’s Defection, Crisis Rocks SDP
The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, Moses Oricha, has described the party’s state congress, held on Wednesday by some aggrieved members, as criminal, illegal, null and void, and futile.
Oricha dismissed the organisers of the purported congress as “faceless.”
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja on Wednesday night, he stated that proceeding with a phantom congress despite a pending case before a court of competent jurisdiction was a criminal violation of due process.
“Our tenure will expire in April 2026, and we wonder why the rush to conduct an illegal congress,” he said.
Oricha commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for not attending the congress, which purportedly produced Ahmed Atta as chairman and Abdulrahman Idris (Sofather) as secretary, among other party executives.
“We urge the general public, security agencies, and INEC to disregard this purported congress organised by some individuals masquerading as party members.”
“It has just come to my notice that some ghost individuals, claiming to be members of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, organised a state congress today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement signed by Isaiah Davies Ijele who is the Press Secretary of SDP in Kogi State, has denounced “the recent unfounded claims and pronouncements made by Mr. Moses Oricha, a suspended former Chairman of the party. Mr. Oricha, who was duly suspended and subsequently lost his position within the party, has no legal or moral standing to speak on behalf of the SDP or question the legitimacy of the recent congress held in Lokoja on March 12th, 2025.
“The congress was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines, with representatives from all local government areas in attendance. It was a resounding success, culminating in the election of new leadership Hon. Ahmed Attah, he is committed to revitalizing the party and fostering unity within its ranks.
“We urge the public to disregard any pronouncements made by Mr. Oricha, as they do not reflect the views or position of the SDP Kogi State Chapter and National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party. Whereas; the congress was sanctioned by the National Leadership of the party. Let the public and our teaming supporters be aware that the Kogi state chapter are a united party, focused on our goals and determined to continue our mission of providing effective representation for the people of Kogi State.”
