From Ahmad Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Kogi State Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Engr. Sam Uhuotu, has secured another mandate, following the successful conduct of the state congress supervised the the former senate president, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Announcing the result at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, Senator Ayu, who was the electoral committee Chairman, with Senator Emmanuel Nwaka as Secretary, commended the peaceful conduct of delegates during the exercise.
He pointed out that the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the PDP is a clear indication that the party would win convincingly in the forthcoming November governorship election in the state.
The incumbent, Uhuotu pulled 1478 votes to defeat his arch rival, Mohammed Omuya who scored 270 votes in a keenly contested election.
The duo of Hon. Sam Abenemi and Hon. Faruk Yahaya emerged unopposed as Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the party respectively.
Prince Bode Ogunmola pulled 983 to also defeat Isah Itopa David who pulled 27 votes to retain his position as the state Publicity Secretary during the congress.
Aside the position for the office of the Chairman and Publicity Secretary which were contested for, the congress saw all the former 27 members of the executives returned in the newly constituted executives.
Those returned in the new executives are; Hon. Sam Abenemi as Deputy Chairman. Zubair Onotu as Vice Chairman Central, Mohammed Pele Vice Chairman East, Barr. Kola Ojo as Vice Chairman West.
Others elected are Barr. Alfred Bello, Treasurer; Jude Sule, Financial Secretary; Stephen Onoji, Youth Leader; Ojechegbe Christopher, Organising Secretary; John Mark Sam, Legal Adviser.
In a post election message, the new PDP Chairman, Engr Sam Uhuotu, thanked the delegates of the party for finding him worthy for re-election, promised to redouble his efforts.
He assured that he and the newly elected state officials would work towards uniting the PDP in the state, pointing out that nothing would stop the PDP from winning the governorship election in November.
Omuya while reacting to the victory of Uhuotu on Sunday, alleged that the state congress was anything but free, fair and credible.
According to him, the delegates were not allowed to vote, insisting that rather, some cabal collected the form from them and voted against their wish.
He alleged that the congress was never free and fair, as it was accompanied by so much abnormalities, stressing that where a group of people fill in the booklets of the ballot papers on behalf of the delegates, such exercise cannot be regarded as transparent.
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