Tension As Group Threatens to Revolt Against Supplementary Election in Kogi State

Abubakar Audu and James Faleke

A Kogi-based political interest group, the  Kogi Equity Front, has said they would protest any attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC)  to foist a governorship candidate on them.

ThisDay reveals that the group made the threat in statement signed by its Director- General, Pastor Stanley Ajileye, giving conditions to INEC and the party, saying it was opposed to supplementary election or any move to hold another primary election.

It also demanded that INEC should  declare APC as winner as well as James Faleke as governor elect.

The group said: “Kogi Equity Front (KEF) may not be able to guarantee peace in the state, if INEC decides to go ahead with supplementary Election. We also call on all Kogite to resist with every constitutional means, attempts by INEC to shortchange or manipulate us through its unconstitutional supplementary election the plan to slate December 5.”

The group said the declaration of Audu’s  running mate,  Abiodun Faleke as the eligible heir of the victory he jointly earned with late Prince Audu was in line with the provision of section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)].

They said: “The sudden death of our energetic prince, our agent of development  and the architect of Kogi Transformation, Abubakar Audu, is unfortunate. Audu died at a time we needed him most. May heaven console his family, especially, his wives, children and the good people of Igala land of Kogi State.

“We wish to also use this medium to console our brother and uncle, Faleke, who has become so knitted with Audu in the past months, sharing views and drawing new templates on how to move the state out of woods. I pray for him, fortitude to bear the reality of Audu’s sudden departure and extra grace to carry on with the pending responsibilities.

“We an confirm today that the problems we are confronted with now is not unconnected with moves by few elements within the fold of national executives of APC in Abuja to attempt the stopping of the hand of God over this state.. Some of them are already working in tandem with INEC to frustrate power shift in Kogi.

“Many of them are already making desperate moves at blackmailing Senator Ahmed Tinubu, that he is plotting a graph for power shift in Kogi State.”