Kogi guber: ADP candidate, Exco trade words

<p>The crises in the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Kogi State worsened on Monday as the party and its Governorship candidate collapsed their structures in support of different gubernatorial candidates for the Kogi November 11 governorship election.</p>, <p>While the party executives, led by the chairman, Prince Yahaya Mamma, on Saturday collapsed their structure and joined four other parties to endorse the candidacy of the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, at the NUJ press Centre, the ADP flagbearer, Barr. Julius Elukpo also stepped down his ambition for the SDP candidate, Muritala Ajaka.</p>, <p>Aside from that, the ADP candidate has hinted that his decision to step down for the SDP candidate was well known to the National body, accusing the state party structure of seeking self-aggrandizement.</p>, <p>The party executives, on their part, said their decision was taken in the best interest of the party as the flagbearer was not ready for the poll and has been working at cross-purposes with the party hierarchy.</p>, <p>Reacting to the ugly development, the ADP flagbearer, Barr. Julius Elukpo, on Monday, in a statement he sent to newsmen in Lokoja, said “I was embarrassed when I heard from the news reports of between 25 to 31 July 2023 in respect of the above subject matter.</p>, <p>“I am the Governorship Candidate for the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Kogi State for the 11 November 2023 Election. There was never a time I conceded or stepped down for the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC), Alhaji Usman Ododo.</p>, <p>“While appropriate action will be taken against the culprits, it will be appreciated, in the interest of balanced reporting, if you could denounce and refute your earlier reports appropriately and accordingly as it concerns ADP.”</p>, <p>However, the state Chairman said he will not engage in any banter with Elukpo over his decision to lead the state executive to APC, stressing that he will wait for when Elukpo will be bold enough to accost him directly or when the national body will