Mystery Over James Faleke’s Status In Today’s Kogi Supplementary Guber Election

As the court paved the way for the supplementary Kogi’s gubernatorial election to hold, the status of James Faleke who is laying lay claim to position of governor elect but listed as running mate to new All Progressives Congress Candidate, Yahaya Bello remains a mystery to many.

This report provides insight
Hours to Saturday’s supplementary election in Kogi State, the status of the running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, Abiodun Faleke, remains a subject of controversy. James Faleke

Mr. Faleke told PREMIUM TIMES, Friday night, that he had written the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw from the supplementary as running mate to Yahaya Bello.

Mr. Bello, first runner up in the All Progressives Congress primary election, which threw up the late Mr. Audu as candidate, was chosen by APC national leadership to replace the deceased.

But Mr. Faleke insists he should be declared governor-elect as Mr. Bello did not partake in the campaigns that gave Mr. Audu’s victory in the first part of the polls. He is also challenging INEC decision to declare the November 21 election inconclusive.

He also said he would appeal the Abuja High Court ruling which dismissed his suit seeking recognition as Kogi governor-elect.

However, the Director Voters’ Education and Publicity of INEC, Kogi State, Daniel Kure, told PREMIUM TIMES, Friday evening, that Mr. Faleke’s name was sent from the INEC headquarters in Abuja as the running mate to Mr. Bello.

The National Secretary of APC, Mala Buni, neither replied text message nor answered calls initiated to get party’s position on the controversy.

On Wednesday, Mr. Faleke told PREMIUM TIMES that he had also informed the APC leadership of his intention to withdraw from the supplementary election if he would be placed as Mr. Bello’s running mate.

Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi State, Halilu Pai, said sensitive materials and card readers meant for tomorrow’s election in Dekina local government area were intact.

The INEC office in Dekina was set ablaze in the early hours of Friday by yet to be identified hoodlums.
Operations have been shifted to the police station in Dekina for Saturday’s election, Mr. Pai said.