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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has confirmed former National Working Committee (NWC) member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, as the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet, disclosed this in Lokoja, shortly after the party submitted a document to that effect.
Longpet said SDP had satisfied the Electoral Act 2022, though subject to the supremacy of Nigerian Constitution, adding that the party’s substitution of candidates “which favours Honourable Murtala Yakubu Ajaka is hereby accepted.”
Ajaka, the immediate past Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, dumped the ruling party on may 17 over alleged irregularities in the Kogi State governorship primary, which he said the leadership of the party did not address properly.
Addressing party supporters at INEC headquarters in Lokoja on Monday, Ajaka said: “The journey to liberate Kogi State from the hand of civilian dictatorship has just began.”
He assured the people of the state that there shall be light at the end of the tunnel, stressing that they should support his candidature and vote him in the governorship election.
“You will not regret voting for me. Give me your support,I know your feelings and challenges before the state. I will strive to fix it by your support and grace of God,”he added.
Meanwhile, Ajaka has picked Chief Sam Abenemi, a seasoned politician from Kogi West Senatorial District of the state as his running mate.
Abenemi resigned as the state deputy chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP) last month.
He was a former chairman of Lokoja Local Government and former Commissioner for Water Resources.
