On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Senator Abba Moro, the Senate Minority Leader, clarified that there is no parallel Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state secretariat in Benue State. Moro made this statement during a discussion with journalists following the expanded caucus meeting of the PDP in Makurdi.
Moro emphasized that the only legitimate state executive committee (EXCO) of the party in Benue is the one led by Ezekiel Adaji. He dismissed reports of a parallel PDP EXCO, stating that the party follows strict rules and regulations regarding state congresses, and these were fully adhered to by the national secretariat of the PDP.
“The national secretariat sent electoral panels and appeal panels to conduct elections and resolve any grievances arising from them,” Moro explained. “These elections were supervised by relevant government agencies, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, which have all submitted reports confirming the legitimacy of the congresses.”
Moro further stated that the reports from INEC and security agencies had been accepted by the national secretariat, making any attempts to create a parallel EXCO outside the party’s established process futile.
“If anyone tries to establish an alternative EXCO outside the Constitution of the party, it is an exercise in futility,” Moro said. “If INEC and security agencies have certified the congresses, then appointing people outside of that process is nothing more than mischief.”
The Senator also addressed the issue of the party’s old secretariat, which he said was locked by the owner of the building, who disagreed with the outcome of the congresses. As a result, the newly elected EXCO, who were denied access to the old secretariat, sought approval from the national secretariat to move to a new facility. This new facility was provided by the leader of the PDP in the state, and the new EXCO adopted it as the official state secretariat.
Moro criticized those who, despite not being elected, had attempted to create confusion by opening the old secretariat and claiming to be conducting party business.
“It is strange that some unelected persons are now trying to open a secretariat that the owner has locked, pretending to carry out party activities,” he said.
Moro’s comments were aimed at dispelling claims of a split in the PDP in Benue and reaffirming the legitimacy of the current state leadership.
