The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Youth Frontier, has reacted to claims in some quarters that former Kogi governor, Ibrahim Idris, had concluded plans to impose his sons as Governor of the state and member of the House of Representatives respectively.
PDPYF in a statement issued by its coordinator, Comrade Usman Okai Austin, said the claim was aimed at causing disaffection and endless crises within the rank and file of the party and particularly in Kogi East.
He said, “In a sane democratic dispensation, it is not out of place for people not minding their offshoots and extraction to indicate interest for elective positions, as at one time or the other, the former governor’s son was a serving member of the house of representatives and also lost the seat when the father had a grip of governance to influence his return for a second term.
“So, his intention to return to the same seat should not be linked to the political arrangement of the father.
“On several occasions, the people of Kogi West had invited the son, Abubakar Idris and expressed several political loyalty and endorsements of his ambition to become governor without the consent of the former governor.
“Another dimension to these allegations is the plan imposition of the former governor’s son, Mohammed Audu, who neither a member of the party nor had indicated interest through the picking of intent form to contest for the party’s senatorial seat from Kogi East, this development have shown that some mischief makers are out to cause disaffection in the party.”
Okai advised detractors not to dissipate much energy on their efforts to install divide and rule in PDP, saying their plans have failed.
The PDP youth leader warned that those behind such calumny should desist and urged serious aspirants “to focus on how to woo delegates and Kogites with strong manifesto and convincing campaign slogan”.