APC in dilemma over Audu’s replacement

In from Olumide Olaoluwa . . .

Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are at sea over the party’s governorship flag bearer in Kogi State following the unexpected death of Prince Abubakar Audu.

Audu was leading Governor Idris Wada with over 41,000 votes but was reported dead shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the poll inconclusive in 91 units across the state.

His death has not only thrown the contest into a legal logjam but also created serious dilemma for leaders of the party.

Investigations by Ripples Nigeria revealed that APC chieftains are divided over who replaces Audu as governorship candidate.

While some are of the opinion that his running mate, Hon. Abiodun Faleke, should automatically fill the vacancy, others are considering other options.
The upgrading of Faleke, it was gathered, appears to be the easiest choice for the party leaders.

Those in support believe that since Faleke ran a joint ticket with the deceased candidate, he should not be denied the honour of filling the vacuum.

One National Working Committee (NWC) member confided: “That is what many are saying now. For sure, we can’t hold a fresh primary since the time frame for that is over.

“INEC also cannot cancel the entire election because it was only inconclusive.

“So, fresh primary is out of the question. Many are saying Faleke should just become our candidate and then we can nominate a running mate for him.”

But the option has legal and political implications for the APC, which is determined to dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State.

One, there are fears that INEC might query the choice of Faleke, arguing he was not elected at the primary.

Another APC chieftain said: “What do we say if INEC raises that objection? We all know a party’s candidate must emerge from a primary.

“Faleke didn’t go through a primary but was nominated as running mate. If INEC raises that objection, the party may be in trouble.”

But those in support of Faleke say the electoral body cannot fault such arrangement since the Electoral Act didn’t envisage the death of a duly elected candidate during a contest.

Also, there is the argument that throwing up Faleke will not serve the interest of APC in terms of power sharing formula in Kogi State.

Faleke is from Kogi West which does not have as much votes as Kogi East where Audu hailed from. The Igalas have dominated the governorship slot since creation of the State in 1991.

The APC realised this and presented Faleke to understudy Audu for four years and take over in 2019. That way, the power shift agitation by Okun nation in Kogi West would have been seamlessly realised.
Faleke’s emergence as governorship candidate will also affect power sharing formula in Kogi West. Senator Dino Melaye is from Ayetoro-Gbedu in Ijumu Local Government while Faleke is from Ekirin Adde, in the same council.
That means the same local government will produce the senator and governor of the state, a situation that will leave the other councils marginalised.
If Faleke becomes governorship candidate, there is the fear that APC’s votes might be seriously reduced, but pro-Faleke elements faulted this.
According to them, it is not a fresh election but mere supplementary in just 91 units.
Of the 49,000 registered voters from the contentious units, only 25,000 were accredited. This, according to them, means there won’t be any significant alteration that will affect the expected victory of the party at the poll.
Some chieftains of the party are also rooting that Alh. Isah Jibrin Echocho, who contested the primary with Audu should take over.
But there are fears that he just defected to the party and cannot be trusted with the structure.
Besides, he too didn’t emerge from a primary.
Checks revealed that the NWC of APC will meet in Abuja today immediately after the burial of Audu to deliberate on the way forward.

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