James Faleke, the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the Kogi election, says he won’t be present at the swearing in of the new government on January 27.
Faleke had upon the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, written INEC to declare him as winner of the polls, despite the declaration of the polls, as inconclusive.
Yahaya Bello was declared governor-elect of Kogi, after winning the supplementary election of Saturday, December 5.
But Faleke, who never supported the ticket, said on Monday, December 7,that he will not work with Bello.
Speaking in Kogi, at a meeting of APC stakeholders from Kogi West senatorial district, Faleke said he would not betray Audu Abubakar by accepting to be Bello’s Deputy.
“I will not disappoint Prince Abubakar Audu. I, James Abiodun Faleke will not be there for the swearing in if we don’t finish the case before the January 27, 2016.
“Nobody consulted me before making me a deputy to Bello. Bello too did not consult me. I have made my position known to the party leadership on this. I am not ready to betray and disappoint Prince Abubakar Audu.”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, says it would amount to legal absurdity for the APC to have made Faleke its governorship candidate, stressing that it would have thrown up fresh legal challenges.
INEC however, said Faleke never withdrew from the supplementary election, as he claims to have done.
“We got a letter from Faleke saying he is the governor-elect. At no time did he withdraw. APC never withdrew his name either. In any case, we never relate with individuals. We only deal with candidates through their parties.
“Even so, his withdrawal would have been correct if it was within the time for withdrawal, which is 45 days before the election, and if his party had forwarded his withdrawal letter to the commission. When he was nominated as deputy governorship candidate, it was his party that forwarded his resume, affidavit and other details to INEC and not Faleke himself.”
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