Kogi NCGG chair alleges Echocho orchestrated postponement of PDP primaries

The Kogi State national chairman of Network for Change and Good Governance (NCGG), Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, has alleged that the governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jibrin Isah Echocho, orchestrated the postponement of the party’s primaries to favour his ambition.

Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja at the weekend, Atumeyi, who berated the PDP NWC over the postponement of the primaries, said the action was a sign of obvious weakness of the political strength of Echocho and his inability to win elections in a free and fair contest.

According to him, “while Echocho’s few supporters, including Smart Adeyemi, had arrived Lokoja for September 10 primaries and waiting to accept their fate, Echocho went wild as usual shouting that the governor was planning to disrupt the scheduled primaries.

“When the PDP organised ward and state congresses, Echocho stayed back in Abuja. PDP organised delegate election, he stayed back in Abuja. His reason is simple; he hopes to get his way through unfair means. January 2011 PDP primaries that purportedly prodded Echocho as flag bearer was actually won by Alhaji Isa Kutepa but this type of politics gave it to Echocho,” Atumeyi alleged.

“We are fully aware that Abuja-based Kogi politicians cum moneybags are the ones bankrolling this type of shenanigan at the national secretariat of the PDP. These are politicians that have been wholly rejected by Kogi people. Kogi people are united against these charlatans.

“God and Kogi people are well pleased with incumbent Governor Idris Wada and insha Allah he will overcome these spent forces,” the NCGG chairman said.