Kogi state: Faleke snubs swearing-in of Bello

Kogi state: Faleke snubs swearing-in of Bello

Wednesday, January 27, 2016 9:52 am


Abiodun Faleke

Abiodun Faleke

James Abiodun Faleke, deputy governor-elect of Kogi state is sticking to his decision to shun today’s  swearing-in of the governor-elect, Yahaya Bello, even though plans are afoot to announce him as the deputy governor.

Two attempts to stop the ceremony  by the PDP and Labour Party were aborted by the Election Tribunal on Monday, clearing the way for the swearing -in of the governor elect, who replaced the original candidate, Abubakar Audu, after his  sudden death.

The ceremony today will be the first in Nigeria, where a governor will take the oath without his deputy, just like Audu’s death was the first by a governorship candidate before the conclusion of an election.

Yahaya Bello: to be sworn in without deputy

Yahaya Bello: to be sworn in without deputy

In  a statement today, Faleke described the plan to announce him as the deputy governor as mischievous.

He had written to INEC before the supplementary election held in December that he was not on the Yahaya Bello ticket as he believed the  21 November election had already been concluded, contrary to the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

His case is already before the Election Tribunal.

“The plan at the inauguration of the supplementary Governor today at the Stadium in Lokoja will be to first call my name several times and after which it will be seen as if I declined and the judge will then move on to call Yahaya Bello for inauguration”, Faleke tweeted early today.

“Let it be known that I was never the running mate to Yahaya Bello and INEC had accepted the fact in its reply to my petition. I urge all our supporters to remain calm as justice will prevail. God is the greatest and He gives power and take it at anytime.”
“What is happening in Kogi State is a rape on our democracy and I want the international community to take note”, Faleke added.

The All Progressives Congress said it was ready with contingency plans to resolve the Faleke issue and part of the plan may be to pretend that Faleke is still the deputy governor-elect and declare him as such at the ceremony in Lokoja today.

In a later tweet, Faleke accused the APC leadership as ‘morally corrupt’

“The leadership of the party must be changed to assist PMB to deliver on his programs of rescuing the country. Moral corruption is worst.Those who are morally corrupt cannot continue to lead a party of change in our country.”

Meanwhile, Mr Isiaka Ajibola, Chairman Media, Alhaji Yahaya Bello Inauguration Committee, said arrangements for the successful inauguration of the governor-elect on Wednesday January 27, have been concluded.

Ajibola told newsmen at a news conference that transition committees of both the out-going and in-coming regimes had perfected the handing and taking over arrangements.


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