ABENEMI’S CARETAKER COMMITTEE OF KOGI SDP: A FARCE?

 ABENEMI’S CARETAKER COMMITTEE OF KOGI SDP: A FARCE?

The situation regarding the caretaker committee established by the SDP in Kogi state is beginning to shift, as the presiding judge has decided to return the case to the Chief Judge (CJ) for reassignment to a substantive judge once the judicial vacation ends.

This decision is significant because, upon reassignment, the new judge will set a fresh date for the hearing, which, according to reports, may be sometime in October or November. Until then, all parties must maintain the status quo, meaning, Hon. Moses Peter will continue as the chairman, and the caretaker committee's actions will be rendered ineffective, making all their decisions null and void.

In terms of the upcoming elections, this implies that:

- The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) will be legally bound to recognize Moses Peter as the party chairman and work with him on all electoral matters.

- Candidates not presented to KOSIEC through the office of the chairman will not be recognized.

- Any activities or decisions made by the caretaker committee will be nullified.

Critics argue that the party undermined itself by allowing the unconstitutional dissolution of the state working committee and the suspension of the state chairman, allegedly due to manipulation by the gubernatorial candidate, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, who is suspected of influencing the national secretariat to carry out actions that could potentially destroy the party.

Observers, both within and outside the party, have praised, Hon. Moses Peter for seeking redress through the judiciary in an effort to save the party from collapse at the hands of individuals with self-serving agenda, who were previously expelled from other political parties.

It should be noted that on Thursday, 19/9/2024, the trial judge, recognizing his role as a vacation judge, ordered the case to be transferred back to the CJ for reassignment, even though only the respondents had filed a case, with no defense yet from the defendants.

Currently, KOSIEC, in its wisdom, has chosen to follow the judiciary's directives, which take precedence over the party's constitution, to work with, Hon. Moses Peter. 

It remains to be seen who the new judge will be and when the case will be adjourned. It is clear that there is still a long way to go before the case is resolved.