News Editor
By Adamu Musa, Lafia
Amid the legal tussle initiated by Senator Mohammed Onawo Ogoshi’s group to halt the congresses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, some members of the party of the opposition party have made serious counter-allegations against the senator. They claimed that his motives go beyond the stated grievances over membership revalidation, zoning arrangements, and access to nomination forms. Instead, they alleged that Senator Onawo’s actions are part of a calculated plan to destabilize the opposition party in the state, ultimately paving the way for his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to these members, Senator Onawo has been making covert arrangements to join the APC and has been in collaboration with Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State. They assert that Senator Onawo’s legal move to stop the PDP congresses is a strategic ploy to weaken the party, disrupt its internal processes, and create a crisis that would make the party vulnerable ahead of his planned defection.
The party members further alleged that Onawo’s alignment with the APC is not a recent development. They claimed that he had already conspired with Governor Sule during the 2023 general elections to ensure the defeat of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, a key APC figure, as part of a broader strategy to shift the balance of power within the state’s political landscape.
They argued that the legal actions Senator Onawo is currently pursuing are designed not to protect the integrity of the PDP but to serve as a smokescreen for his true intentions. By creating internal discord and halting the congresses, he allegedly seeks to delay and disrupt the party’s preparations for future elections, thereby weakening its organizational structure and diminishing its electoral prospects.
The party members insist that Senator Onawo’s legal battles are not rooted in genuine concerns for the party’s democratic processes or constitutional integrity. Instead, they describe his actions as a betrayal of the party’s core values and a deliberate effort to destroy it from within before making his exit.
“Senator Onawo has shown through his actions that he is not committed to the growth and unity of our party. His recent attempts to halt the congresses are a clear indication that he is working to create chaos and confusion, all in preparation for his defection to the APC,” a party insider alleged. “His so-called concern for party members is nothing but a disguise for his plans to ruin the PDP and align with the APC.”
The party members assert that Senator Onawo’s alleged collaboration with the APC will soon be fully exposed to the public. They believe that the legal obstacles he has placed in the path of the PDP congresses are just the first step in his larger scheme to switch parties and curry favor with the ruling APC.
They are calling on all loyal PDP members to be vigilant and resist any attempts to derail the party’s activities. They urged members not to be swayed by Onawo’s legal maneuvers, which they say are aimed at destroying the party’s internal cohesion and weakening its capacity to compete effectively in future elections.
“We will not allow anyone to undermine the PDP from within. We will stand firm against these attempts to destroy our party and we will expose the true intentions of those who seek to betray us,” the statement from the concerned members concluded.
The concerned PDP members have called for unity and vigilance among party faithfuls, emphasizing the need to stay committed to the party’s ideals and objectives. They encourage members to see beyond the legal battles and remain focused on strengthening the party’s structures at all levels.
As the legal proceedings continue and the accusations fly, the situation within the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Nasarawa State remains tense. With the next court hearing set for October 3rd, the party’s future course of action will depend heavily on the outcome of the case and the resolution of the internal crisis.
