Speaking on a Channels Television programme, “Politics Today,” Faleke,
who is challenging the decision by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to declare the November 21 governorship poll in Kogi,
inconclusive, maintained that the only reason he would settle out of
court was for Governor Bello to resign. Faleke described the decision of the national leadership of the party,
led by its chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to adopt Bello as the
party’s candidate for the December 5 election, as devoid of equity and
justice. He chided insinuations that his actions were anti-party, noting that his
decision to challenge the party’s decision was to protect the interest
of the party, otherwise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would claim
the mandate. Faleke said he would pursue his case to a logical conclusion, since the
APC failed to settle the case out of court before the inauguration of
Bello.“I am not working with PDP. The party is supreme only if its decision is
based on equity and justice. You do not slap somebody and take what he
has by force. For me, what has happened in Kogi and in our party is
civilian coup de’tat. If this kind of situation happens in a military
regime, I am sure those behind it will face firing squad,” he said. On whether he was willing to settle out of court if approached by the
party, he said “I won’t accept such offer because we are already in
court. The only condition to settle out of court is if Alhaji Yahaya
Bello is ready to resign. That is the condition that will favour the
people that worked for the party.”
RUNNING
mate to the late Alhaji Abubakar Audu in the Kogi governorship election
on the ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable James
Faleke, has likened Wednesday’s inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as
governor of the state as a civilian coup d’état orchestrated by the
national leadership of the party.
Asked about his status, Faleke said “I remain Honourable James Abiodun Faleke and not the deputy governor-elect.”Also reacting, the PDP dismissed as comical, the swearing-in of Bello,
saying the new governor was only on excursion in the Government House.
According to a statement issued by the national secretary of the PDP, Professor Adewale Oladipo, in Abuja, the party said “the said Yahaya Bello, who cannot claim the overall winning votes in the election, is, therefore, a shadow-chasing passer-by on an excursion in Kogi State government house, as the so-called swearing-in ceremony, having no bearing from the votes at election, is at best an APC function.”
The party observed that people of Kogi were aware that “the man being paraded by the APC is not the person they exercised confidence in at the election, as he scored a paltry 6,885 vote in the so-called supplementary election, as against the 204,877 votes polled by the PDP candidate, Alhaji Idris Wada, in the overall election.”
Meanwhile, an African youth political think-tank, Pan-African Society for Social and Economic Change (PASSEC), has recommended Mr Gowon Usman Egbunu as Kogi deputy governor.
It also warned the APC in the state to thread with caution in its appointment of a deputy governor, as any wrong decision was capable of setting the state on the path of retrogression.
In a statement jointly signed by the Executive Director, Wale Martins, and secretary, Mohammed Basah, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the group said there was the need to bring a neutral person to fill the position, to forestall any future crisis.
According to a statement issued by the national secretary of the PDP, Professor Adewale Oladipo, in Abuja, the party said “the said Yahaya Bello, who cannot claim the overall winning votes in the election, is, therefore, a shadow-chasing passer-by on an excursion in Kogi State government house, as the so-called swearing-in ceremony, having no bearing from the votes at election, is at best an APC function.”
The party observed that people of Kogi were aware that “the man being paraded by the APC is not the person they exercised confidence in at the election, as he scored a paltry 6,885 vote in the so-called supplementary election, as against the 204,877 votes polled by the PDP candidate, Alhaji Idris Wada, in the overall election.”
Meanwhile, an African youth political think-tank, Pan-African Society for Social and Economic Change (PASSEC), has recommended Mr Gowon Usman Egbunu as Kogi deputy governor.
It also warned the APC in the state to thread with caution in its appointment of a deputy governor, as any wrong decision was capable of setting the state on the path of retrogression.
In a statement jointly signed by the Executive Director, Wale Martins, and secretary, Mohammed Basah, in Abuja, on Wednesday, the group said there was the need to bring a neutral person to fill the position, to forestall any future crisis.
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