A tense meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC) officials ended political deadlock over the Kogi State APC primary races today.
The All Progressives Congress has adopted Yahaya Bello as replacement for Abubakar Audu, its Kogi governorship candidate who died as the election was declared inconclusive.
Mr. Bello came a distant second to late Mr. Audu in the APC’s primary held August 13.
Mr. Audu died November 22, just as he was declared winner in majority of local government areas, ahead of incumbent Governor Idris Wada.
James Faleke, the former running mate the deceased Abubakar Audu, has threatened to pull out of the race, making the Party’s nomination of Yahaya Bello vulnerable to a legal challenge in court. Mr. Faleke made his threat known to journalists at the end of the meeting at the Party Secretariat in Abuja.
Mr. Faleke was on the APC gubernatorial ticket as the Deputy Governor candidate and argues that, due to the death of Mr. Audu, he should be the rightful APC candidate in the reelection.
He told the media “if the Party decides to go with Bello as the candidate, I will pull out of the race leaving it vulnerable to be challenged in a court of law.”
He added that he was not briefed by the leadership of the Party on their decision to pick Bello as party candidate, and that he was just informed about their decision.
“The Party told us that they have nominated Alhaji Yahaya Bello. We told them that it is not acceptable and we are not going with it, and that I personally observed that my name was submitted to INEC as the Deputy Governorship candidate, ” he continued.
Mr. Faleke insisted that Mr. Bello did not participate in the campaign adding that he thought that Party would challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission in court.
“I want to make it very clear that Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not take part in all our campaign process and we now are only contesting in 91 polling units out 2,548.”
Earlier political supporters of both Mr. Bello and Mr. Faleke besieged the Party Secretariat chanting solidarity songs for their principals.
