NIGERIA: SECURITY AGENTS ARRESTS TOP KOGI STATE POLITICIAN AS GOVERNOR’S SWEARING IN DAY DRAWS NEAR.

MR. JAMES FALEKE

Kogi State is currently in an apprehensive state as the people react to the recent arrest of James Abiodun Faleke, the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the inconclusive Kogi State governorship election and the deceased’s son Mohammed Audu. The two were requested to appear before the authorities of the Directorate of State Security in Abuja and their followers are jittery.

The issue connected to their invitation is Mr. Faleke’s contention that as the running mate to the late Prince Audu, he was the proper person to step into his shoes as the governorship candidate of the APC upon his demise. He also contends that the November 21, 2015 election had been concluded and he was duly elected as the deputy governor and as such the mandate is still valid making him the right person to be declared duly elected as governor of Kogi State.

He even went on to approach the courts to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting the supplementary governorship election in Kogi State but this attempt was unsuccessful. This attempt was also to stop the presentation of the second runner up in the APC primaries; Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello by the National Working Committee of the party to INEC as replacement to the late Prince Audu.

In continuation of the struggle for his mandate, Mr. Faleke had gone ahead to challenge the election of Alhaji Bello as Governor of Kogi State before the Election Petitions Tribunal and has rebuffed all entreaties by Alhaji Bello. This uncompromising stance of Mr. Faleke is also that of several supporters in the state and it is feared that violence may erupt in the event that Alhaji Bello is sworn in as Governor thus the invitation by the DSS so that the situation can be controlled before, during and after the swearing in date of January 27, 2016.

It is reported that Mr. Faleke got to the Headquarters of the DSS at about 10.00am this Saturday morning and remains there. Officials of his Campaign Organization have confirmed their principal’s invitation to Abuja and also express anxiety over the situation; however, they stated their confidence in Mr. Faleke getting justice through constitutional means as a staunch believer in the rule of law. They also called on the DSS to handle the matter fairly.

It is reported that the DSS has not released any information on the invitation but unidentified sources within the organization have confirmed that Mr. Faleke has honored their invitation.

Events in the next few days would tell exactly the true intent of Mr. Faleke’s invitation.