The Kogi State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is embroiled in a leadership dispute as its chairman, Moses Peter Oricha, has dismissed an alleged congress being arranged by certain individuals claiming to be party members.
In a statement issued on Monday, Oricha urged the public, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ignore the proposed gathering, which is reportedly set for March 12, 2025.
Condemning the move, he described the organizers as anonymous figures working under external influence to destabilize the party. He labeled their efforts as both “ridiculous and unlawful,” insisting they had no legitimate standing within the SDP.
“This so-called congress is a complete farce. These individuals are unknown within the party, and their actions hold no validity,” Oricha asserted.
He further disclosed that he had officially informed INEC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, urging them to disregard and halt the gathering.
Oricha reaffirmed that the existing state executive, elected in April 2022, remains legitimate, and the next congress is not scheduled until April 2026, in accordance with the SDP constitution.
Calling on party supporters to remain steadfast, he dismissed the planned congress as the work of “disruptive elements” seeking to destabilize the SDP.
This internal conflict underscores the deepening divisions within the Kogi SDP, raising concerns about the party’s stability ahead of future political engagements.