Abejide’s expulsion sparks outrage as Kogi diaspora group accuses ADC NWC of injustice

The Kogi-in-Diaspora Association has denounced the alleged expulsion of Hon. Leke Abejide, the lawmaker representing Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopa-Muro Federal Constituency, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as an injustice to the people of the state.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its national leader, Seyi Olorunsola, the group criticised the decision of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which it said ratified Abejide’s removal on claims of “acts of indiscipline.”

“It has come to our attention that today, the National Working Committee (NWC) of ADC has ratified the expulsion of our distinguished brother, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide — representing Yagba East, Yagba West & Mopa-Muro Federal Constituency — from the party on the pretext of alleged ‘acts of indiscipline.’

“As the vanguard organisation of Kogi State indigenes in the diaspora, we view this development with utmost consternation and strong condemnation. We wish to state unequivocally, without fear of contradiction, that this action is not only unjust, but born of hypocrisy, political avarice, and a brazen hijacking of political platform by imposters lacking legitimacy, achievement, and moral standing,” the statement said.

The association praised Abejide’s track record, noting that he has earned a reputation as a committed leader dedicated to improving the lives of his constituents.

“Under his watch, roads long abandoned and ignored — such as the Kabba-Ilorin federal road, Ekinrin-Adde–Iyamoye road, Igbagun-Alu-Ife-Olukotun, and other rural links — have been rehabilitated or asphalted, transforming transportation and connectivity across Yagba Federal Constituency and Okunland.

“Through the Leke Abejide Foundation, he has consistently championed social welfare: paying WAEC (and NECO) fees for public and private secondary-school students across his constituency for several years; awarding scholarships to students — including medical and international-study scholarships; and providing vocational empowerment, farm tools, seedlings, fertilizers, water pumps, and livelihood grants to artisans, traders, farmers, women, youths and widows,” it said.

The group dismissed the legitimacy of the faction that announced Abejide’s expulsion, insisting the action is politically motivated and unlikely to stand.

“The so-called ‘new leadership’ of ADC that claims to have expelled Hon. Abejide lacks the moral credibility, developmental record, or grassroots acceptance that he commands in his constituency. Their manoeuvre reeks of desperation: by removing a shining star like Abejide, they hope to rehabilitate their battered political fortunes. That effort — this Kogi-in-Diaspora Association declares — is nothing but a pipe dream. Their political adventure in ADC will surely crash before it takes off.

“Moreover, we draw public attention to the involvement of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this affair. The hasty recognition by INEC of the faction led by a controversial National Working Committee — allegedly under the leadership of a certain former office holder — raises grave questions about fairness, partisanship and complicity. With the current INEC Chairman also hailing from Kogi State, one cannot but perceive a deliberate attempt by Abejide’s political adversaries to disenfranchise the people of Yagba and Okunland by displacing the only federal representative who has truly championed their interests.

“This so-called ‘expulsion,’ orchestrated by imposters — with the aid of the election umpire — is clearly part of a fifth-columnist strategy meant to rob Kogi people of effective representation, to serve narrow personal ambitions. We reject and repudiate this manoeuvre in its entirety,” it added.

The association called on Nigerians to reject the expulsion and urged INEC to immediately reverse any recognition granted to the factional NWC.

“We demand that: INEC and all relevant democratic institutions rescind any recognition of the bogus ADC NWC until due process and internal democracy within ADC is respected.

“The so-called leaders of the ‘new ADC’ to desist forthwith from any further victimization or attempt to void the mandate of Hon. Abejide.

“That the political rights and constitutional mandate of Hon. Abejide — as freely elected by the people of his Federal Constituency — be respected,” it said.

The group further vowed to resist any effort to undermine Abejide’s mandate or silence his supporters.

“We shall, within the ambits of the law, oppose any effort to disenfranchise the people of Yagba or undermine the political career of Hon. Leke Abejide.”We remain resolute in defending the democratic will of our people; and we call on all patriotic Kogites, wherever they are in the world, to stand with us and refuse to be silent in the face of injustice,” it added.