The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently denied the involvement of Senate President Bukola Saraki in a purported scheme to impose Sen. Dino Melaye (PDP – Kogi West) on party members in the Kogi West senatorial district.
The party described the accusation against Saraki as an attempt by some “unscrupulous elements, working with some fifth columnists” to cause confusion within its fold and disparage its leaders.
The party’s position was made known in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan and made available to the media on Saturday.
The Herald can report that some members of the PDP in Kogi West senatorial district on Saturday in Abuja protested their disqualification from contesting for the senatorial ticket because of the incumbent, Sen. Melaye.
While vowing not to quit the party but to work against it in 2019, the protesters accused Saraki of spearheading the plot to disqualify them to favour his friend.
But in a swift response to the protests, the party said, “The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to misleading publication in a section of the media suggesting that the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, is involved in the affairs of our party’s chapter in Kogi state.
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“This is completely false, mischievous and an unfounded design by unscrupulous elements, working with some fifth columnists, to cause confusion within our fold as well as attempt to drag down our leaders, as we prepare for the 2019 general election.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Saraki is in no way playing any determining role in the affairs of our Kogi state chapter or interfering in the processes for the election of candidates in the state for the general election.
“The Senate President, as a foremost national leader of our great party, has maintained his stand for strict adherence to the rules of internal democracy, fairness and transparency, particularly in providing level playing ground for all at levels of engagement ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“Even as the principal leader of our party in the North Central, Senator Saraki has maintained the highest democratic standards and probity and has never gotten involved in issues related to state chapters or the interests of aspirants in any of the states in the zone.
“It is therefore preposterous for any body to attempt to link the Senate President to any contentious issue in Kogi or any other state for that matter.
“The national and state organs of our party are on top of all issues and situations relating to the election of candidates and no body should attempt to drag in the Senate President or any of our leaders.
“We therefore caution all our members, particularly, in Kogi state, to be well guided and not allow unscrupulous elements to cause confusion within our fold.
“Finally, the national leadership assures that all issues relating to our primaries for all are being addressed and no qualified persons will be shut out from the process.”