Ododo remains APC member despite defection rumours, Kogi declares

The Kogi State Government has declared that Governor Usman Ododo remains a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress, stressing that he is not considering defecting to the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party.

This statement was made in response to a report by an online news platform (not PUNCH Online), which went viral early on Saturday.

The report claimed that Ododo, who secured a Supreme Court victory on Friday, dismissing the appeal of the Social Democratic Party candidate, Muritala Ajaka, contesting Ododo’s victory in the 2023 Kogi State governorship election, was considering defecting to the PDP.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Saturday, obtained by our correspondent, described the report as “a reckless and unprofessional media report.”

The statement clearly stated that the report was a product of mischief makers and promoters of falsehood who were still licking their wounds after their loss at the Supreme Court on Friday.

The statement read: “The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to a reckless and unprofessional media report that the Governor of the State was considering dumping the All Progressives Congress. We would have ignored the blatant falsehood, but we owe the public the duty of providing correct and adequate information.

“The promoters of the falsehood are people who are still ruing their woeful failure at the law courts and are probably trying to find a back door into the All Progressives Congress, hence their resort to the only tools at their disposal, which are falsehood, propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation.

“The picture being circulated was taken at the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the Taraba State Governor, His Excellency Agbu Kefas, which was attended by dignitaries from across the country, including the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, as well as governors from across party lines. His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo was at the occasion to honour the daughter of a colleague, as other governors did.

“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo only yesterday triumphed at the Supreme Court with the support of his party. It is unintelligent to insinuate that the Governor is abandoning the party that supported him throughout his electioneering and the litigations. Their craft of lies is falling like a house of cards.”

The government assured the people of Kogi State that Ododo remains a solid member of the ruling APC and will continue to support all party activities in the state and nationally.

It added: “We want to assure the good people of Kogi State that their Governor remains a solid member of the All Progressives Congress and will support the party’s success, not only in Kogi State but nationally.

“We urge the people to rest assured that Kogi remains APC and will continue to support the laudable policies and progress being recorded by the President of our dear nation, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Indeed, governors are united across party lines to support the efforts of Mr President at uniting our nation.”

Recall that Ajaka had challenged the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission after the November 11, 2023 election, which produced APC’s Ododo as the winner.

After his petition was dismissed at the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal, Ajaka appealed the tribunal’s judgment at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, where his appeal was also dismissed.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous decision on Friday, affirmed Ododo’s victory as the panel refused to void the election as requested by Ajaka.