Moses Oricha, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State, has called the party’s state congress, which was attended by some members on Wednesday, criminal, unlawful, pointless, and worthless.
However, Isaiah Davies Ijele, the SDP’s Kogi press secretary, has condemned the statement.
Oricha called the people who organised the alleged congress “faceless.”
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja on Wednesday night, he stated that proceeding with a phantom congress despite a pending case before a court of competent jurisdiction was a criminal violation of due process.
“Our tenure will expire in April 2026, and we wonder why the rush to conduct an illegal congress,” he said.
Oricha commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for not attending the congress, which purportedly produced Ahmed Atta as chairman and Abdulrahman Idris (Sofather) as secretary, among other party executives.
“We urge the general public, security agencies, and INEC to disregard this purported congress organised by some individuals masquerading as party members.”
“It has just come to my notice that some ghost individuals, claiming to be members of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, organised a state congress today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025,” he said.
In the meantime, Isaiah Davies Ijele, the SDP’s Kogi State press secretary, condemned “the recent unfounded claims and pronouncements made by Mr. Moses Oricha, a suspended former Chairman of the party,” in a statement. Mr Oricha has neither the legal nor moral authority to speak on behalf of the SDP or to cast doubt on the validity of the most recent congress, which was held in Lokoja on March 12, 2025, after he was properly suspended and lost his position within the party.
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“The congress was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines, with representatives from all local government areas in attendance. It was a resounding success, culminating in the election of new leadership, Hon. Ahmed Attah; he is committed to revitalising the party and fostering unity within its ranks.
“We urge the public to disregard any pronouncements made by Mr Oricha, as they do not reflect the views or position of the SDP Kogi State Chapter and National Working Committee of the Social Democratic Party. Whereas the congress was sanctioned by the National Leadership of the party. Let the public and our teaming supporters be aware that the Kogi state chapter is a united party, focused on our goals and determined to continue our mission of providing effective representation for the people of Kogi State.”
