The leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Dekina Local Government Chapter, Kogi State has escalated as Chairman Husseini Ejini, facing criticism for supporting Senator Dino Melaye, moved to suspend key party members.
Those to be suspended include former governor, Idris Wada, former commissioner, Eke Iyaji, Pioneer Chairman, John Odawn, and party chieftain, John Yakubu.
At the meeting with the factional state chairman, Tom Zekeri, it was disclosed that Wada didn’t support Melaye, the former governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 poll and therefore cannot remove Ejini, who worked for the party.
Recall that supporters of Melaye in the Dekina Local Government chapter of the party had accused the former governor as the brain behind the crisis in the party.
They alleged that Wada was aggrieved for losing the primaries to Melaye, thereby worked against him in the general election in favour of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Zekeri further stated that he ensured that the suspension of the division chairman, Ejini, was overturned because Wada, who was behind the suspension, never supported Melaye.
“Wada didn’t return home to campaign or seek support for our governorship candidate and there is no way we will fold our hands and allow that to happen,” another source in the meeting quoted Tom Zekeri to have said so.
Zekeri also urged the Ejini faction to visit Mrs Grace Atawodi, who relocated to Abuja over the crisis and mounted more pressure on her to ensure that the distractors didn’t have their way.
Tom, who came home for the burial of one of his relations in Iyale, promised Ejini that his seat as chairman was secure, and Ejini, in return, confirmed Tom Zekeri as the new leader of PDP in Dekina, demanding that Tom should drop his house key in Iyale for him.
According to collected report, it was stated that all meetings that were held at Chief Odawn’s house in Egume would henceforth be in Iyale, showing everyone that Tom is the new leader.
He (Tom) said, “The key is always with his brother who is at home.”
The faction also asked Tom Zekeri to nominate the person to fill the position of state PRO, which is already zoned to Dekina. Tom suggested Khalid Mohammed for the position, for his alleged demonstration of loyalty to Tom Zekeri-led faction in the state.
