The Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, His Excellency Alhaji Murita Ajaka, has firmly declared his unwavering loyalty to the party and called on its members to remain steadfast, describing the SDP as the only vehicle capable of rescuing Kogi State in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
The declaration was made today at a crucial meeting of the SDP State Working Committee (SWC) and key stakeholders, held at the party’s state secretariat in Lokoja. The meeting, which drew party chieftains, local government chairmen, women leaders, youth representatives, and other critical stakeholders from across all 21 Local Government Areas of the state, was convened to foster unity and strategize following a period of intense speculation regarding the party’s future.
Addressing the packed room, Alhaji Ajaka directly confronted the widespread rumours that had been circulating within political circles, suggesting an imminent mass defection of him and his supporters to either the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement that drew resounding applause, Ajaka categorically denied any such plans. “I stand before you today, not as a man preparing to abandon the ship, but as your captain, steady at the helm,” he stated. “Let my words be clear and let them go out to all corners of this state: I have not asked anyone to move to the ADC or the APC. I remain a committed and dedicated member of the Social Democratic Party.”
He emphasized the principles of transparency and collective decision-making that underpin his leadership, assuring the party faithful that no such monumental decision would ever be taken unilaterally. “I am not about leaving this party that we have built together. But I want to assure you of this: if such a need ever does arise in the future, which I do not foresee, I will first call on this house and all other critical persons to inform them of such a decision. It will be a collective discussion, not a solitary one,” he added.
The 2023 gubernatorial poll, in which Alhaji Ajaka was widely seen as a frontrunner, was marred by controversies and allegations of irregularities. Despite the outcome, his performance galvanized a significant opposition force in the state, making the SDP a formidable and vocal political bloc. However, this newfound prominence also made the party a target for political poaching and internal uncertainty, leading to rumours designed to fracture its base.
Ajaka’s speech served as a strategic move to shore up support and refocus the party’s energy on its long-term objective: winning the Government House in 2027. “I ask you, my brothers and sisters, to hold on firmly to the SDP,” he urged the stakeholders. “Do not be swayed by rumours or intimidated by temporary setbacks. This is the party that represents the hope of the common people of Kogi. This is the party that will rescue Kogi State from the grips of maladministration and lead us into a new era of progress and prosperity. Our mission is not for 2023; it is for 2027, and we must begin our work now.”
The meeting was described by attendees as a significant morale booster. A stakeholder from Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “His Excellency’s words have put all the rumours to rest. We were becoming anxious, but today he has given us renewed strength and direction. We are now more united than ever.”
The State Chairman of the party, in his closing remarks, praised Alhaji Ajaka’s leadership and reaffirmed the SWC’s total support for his vision. He echoed the call for unity, tasking all local government chapters to return to their wards and spread the message of steadfastness.
As the meeting concluded with the party’s signature slogan and fist sign—#Progress ✊—the message from the SDP secretariat was clear: the party is consolidating, not disintegrating, and is already laying the groundwork for a formidable challenge in 2027, with Alhaji Murita Ajaka firmly at its center.
