Faleke says he’s governor-elect, refuses to run with Bello

monjola sotubo

December 1, 2015 4:55 PM

Faleke also said that he would not run alongside the APC’s replacement for Audu, Yahaya Bello in the December 5 supplementary election.

Abiodun James Faleke

James Faleke, the running mate to former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kogi State, late Prince Abubakar Audu has said that he is the rightful governor-elect of the state.

Faleke also said that he would not run alongside the APC’s replacement for Audu, Yahaya Bello in the December 5 supplementary election.

He made the declaration on Monday, November 30, 2015, at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

“The party told us that it had nominated Alhaji Yahaya Bello and of course, we made it clear that as the political family of Prince Abubakar Audu, because it is not acceptable and we are not going with it,” Faleke said.

“I personally observed that my name has been submitted to INEC as deputy governorship candidate to pair with Alhaji Yahaya Bello and I told the National Chairman clearly and in clear words, that I have submitted a letter this morning distancing myself from that decision and that on no ground will I want to be associated with the decision of the party to pair me with Alhaji Yahaya Bello because I am already governor-elect.

“I also told him, Mr. Chairman for us as a family, Kogi state political family, we are not taking part in that election and my name cannot be submitted because I was not even consulted in the first instance. The Governor-elect cannot become another deputy governorship candidate.

“I want to make it very clear that Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not take part in all our campaign process and we are only contesting election in 91 polling units out 2,548 or there about polling units and we have made it very clear that if they go ahead to conduct election because I have pulled out, that election would be challenged in the court of law, it will be null and void.

“We won’t be addressing you today if the party had followed the path of honour we championed there is for the party to go to court and challenge INEC and Mr. Chairman told us directly right away without considering it twice that the party will not go to court and since the party is not going to court, we have taken it upon ourselves to defend ourselves in court and we are challenging the decision," he added.

The APC was authorized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Audu after his death on November 22, a day after the initial polls.

Audu and Faleke were in also in the lead in the election before it was declared inconclusive by INEC.

READ: Tinubu reportedly rejects Bello, supports Faleke

Audu’s son, Mohammed had initially been chosen to replace his father but was substituted with Bello at the last minute.

READ: Faleke, Bello supporters clash at APC headquarters in Abuja

Meanwhile, Faleke has vowed to reclaim his mandate and has chosen Mohammed Audu as his running mate.

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