Despite his earlier public withdrawal from the supplementary election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has upheld the ‘running mate’ status of James Faleke in the recently concluded Kogi state gubernatorial election.
There had been a lot of chaos following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu before the announcement of a winner in the state’s governorship polls in November.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) became divided over the possible replacement for Audu since INEC ordered a supplementary poll after rendering the initial one inconclusive, and Faleke wanted the electoral body to name him the governor-elect.
James Faleke insists that he won the Kogi state governorship election.
After the tussle for APC’s candidacy, the party named Yahaya Bello as its flagbearer in the supplementary election and he went ahead to win the election in the state.
According to Daily Post, after this declaration by INEC, an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the state collation centre challenged the nomination of Bello as governorship candidate of the APC, arguing that he was not known and did not have a running mate since Faleke had withdrawn from the supplementary.
But in a move to stem any form of confusion, Amina Zakari, the INEC national commissioner for the north central region, said Faleke remained Bello’s deputy because the APC did not withdraw the nomination even though he (Faleke) had written to inform of his intention to pull out of the race.
She said: “Unless the party withdraws a candidate, his letter is not enough, and unless the proper channel is followed, which is through the party, he remains the running mate,” adding that the PDP should seek redress in court if it is not satisfied.
Meanwhile, a group which is loyal to the candidacy of Faleke as the governorship candidate in the election has lambasted INEC for announcing Bello as the winner of the election.
In a press conference, the organization’s director of media, Duro Meseko, said the final result announced by the electoral umpire has justified its earlier stance that the poll of November 21, was already won by the Audu/Faleke joint ticket.
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