I’m the genuine PDP chairman in Kogi, not Anyebe, who doesn’t meet the required standards to lead – Says Muhammad Sani Gambo
Hon. Muhammad Sani Gambo, the first runner-up in the last Kogi State People’s Democratic Party Congress, insists that he is the authentic State Chairman of PDP and demands immediate swearing-in.
Hon. Muhammad cautioned against Enemona Anyebe’s impersonation, highlighting that he has been wrongly portraying himself as the State Chairman of the Party, despite an ongoing court case regarding his disputed emergence as Chairman in an election he did not participate in.
According to him, the National Working Committee (NWC) should direct Anyebe and his accomplices in the Kogi PDP presenting him as Chairman to stop, highlighting that his fraudulent actions are making the party a laughing stock.
Hon. Muhammad declared that his rise to second runner-up and rightful Chairman of Kogi PDP was an act of divine providence, highlighting his commitment to eliminating illegality within the party, while also observing that Anyebe did not meet the necessary qualifications to serve as Chairman.
Hon. Muhammad asked who was more mischievous: the individual with a clean slate to contest, or the person who was not cleared to contest due to disobedience of a court order, lack of qualification, and being barred by a competent court, yet still claimed to be Chairman, exemplifying the apex of impunity, and describing Anyebe’s actions as the most flagrant political mischief.
In a statement, Hon. Muhammad reacted to an interview by Enemona on Arise Television and a statement signed by Alhaji Tijani Aruwa, where they claimed that Hon. Muhammad’s actions were mischievous, specifically addressing a press conference and issuing releases. However, Hon. Muhammad described Enemona’s actions, who was not a candidate but presented himself as Chairman, as the greatest political mischief in history.
“I was the first runner-up in the August 31 Congress. I should be sworn in immediately because nature abhors a vacuum. It is criminal for Anyebe to have paraded himself as Chairman. Anyone who has recognized him as Chairman is also criminally culpable.”
“I urge well-meaning members of the public to take note that Anyebe was never and cannot be Chairman of Kogi PDP, as he did not participate in the August 31 Congress. It is unfortunate that Anyebe and the PDP are asking me to await the outcome of the court before I am sworn in.”
“It is heartening to observe that in his reaction, the said Anyebe acknowledged that the matter challenging his legitimacy to assume the Chairmanship of Kogi PDP is pending in court. Consequently, nobody should recognize Anyebe as Chairman, and it is confounding that he persists in presenting himself as Chairman despite being aware of the court proceedings. His conduct, including presenting flags to our party’s candidates and attending the NWC meeting in Abuja, constitutes a grave form of mischief. Hence, I urge security agencies to arrest him if he continues to impersonate the Chairman.”
“For the record, the NWC stepped him down on the day of the inauguration of the newly elected executive members. As the duly elected Chairman, I should be sworn in by the NWC to carry out my duties, given that Enemona was never a contestant.”
“It has become imperative to address the rampant illegality plaguing the Kogi PDP. I am intrigued by the identity of the individual orchestrating this malicious behavior. A notable instance of this illegality is the case of Anyebe, who, in flagrant disregard of a court order, illicitly presented himself as Chairman, despite never having contested for the position. As of the date of the Congress, a competent court had issued an order barring him from presenting himself. Nevertheless, he presented flags and surreptitiously attended a NWC meeting in Abuja. In my opinion, this exemplifies a level of mischief that the Kogi PDP cannot afford to tolerate.”
“You cannot be above the court order. We are not a banana republic. I am the duly elected Kogi PDP Chairman. Anyebe was never a contestant, had no form, was not screened, and was stopped by the court. I am the elected Chairman of Kogi PDP who should be sworn in. We must stop illegality by obeying the constitution.”
Hon. Muhammad urged the NWC, all relevant National and State PDP organs, and constitutional lawyers to address the Kogi issue, cautioning against the ongoing illegality within the PDP. He emphasized that if not addressed, the PDP would face difficulties in presenting candidates in future elections, as experienced in other states. He requested to be sworn in as the Kogi State PDP Chairman, having been elected at the Congress.
