DOUBLE REGISTRATION: Melaye, APC want Gov Bello to resign or be impeached

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has been advised to immediately resign his position, or face impeachment.

This was the position of some members of the state All Progressives Congress (APC) following the accusation that the governor registered twice for Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

The call for his resignation was made by the spokesperson for the members, Sen. Dino Melaye, during a briefing in Abuja on Friday.

He said, “This executive recklessness and impunity is what we are reacting to. We are saying that as stakeholders in Kogi politics and the All Progressives Congress, we condemn in its entirety the fraudulent behaviour of Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State.

“Kogi people are responsible people and we expect to have a responsible governor. As at the time he was contesting that election, it showed that he was not a registered voter in Kogi State. Since he knew he was not registered in the state, why did he in the first place accept the candidacy of the party?

“So, on this note, we are calling immediately for the resignation of the governor. If he has integrity, he should honourably resign and if the governor refuses to resign, we are going to mobilise our members in the House of Assembly to start an impeachment process against him.

“We will do this because we have a valid point as expressed by INEC.”

Melaye further said that Kogi citizens would be mobilised to stage a peaceful protest in strategic locations across the country if Bello refuses to resign.

Read also: Gov Bello broke the law, registered twice, but we can’t prosecute him, INEC laments

Kogi State APC chairman, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo, speaking on the matter also said that the state chapter of party was in full support of Melaye’s position.

“We know the law and INEC says it is criminal. We will abide by what Melaye has just said. That is our position.’’

INEC had accused Bello of illegal involvement in double registration for Permanent Voter Card which contravenes the Electoral Act.

According to INEC, Bello first registered on January 30, 2011 in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja and the second registration on Tuesday, May 23, at the Government House, Lokoja.

The governor who did not deny the allegation, said through his spokesperson, Kingsley Fanwo, that he was left with no choice but to re-register again in Kogi because INEC had so far failed to transfer his voter’s card from Abuja to Kogi.

 

 

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