Kogi: Faleke may be replaced if … – Odigie-Oyegun

The All Progressives Congress, APC, may replace its Duputy Governor-elect in Kogi State, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, if the need arises.

This was was stated by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in Abuja during an interactive session with journalists.

Odigie-Oyegun’s statement is coming on the heels of Faleke’s insistence that he would not be available to be sworn in as deputy governor to the governor elect, Yahaya Bello.

Faleke had also written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, asking the electoral body to declare him the governor elect. Faleke was running mate to the late Abubakar Audu, the original governorship candidate of the party.

Odigie-Oyegun said: “On the Faleke issue, it is rather a straightforward and easy issue; we have replaced a governorship candidate.
“If the need arises and subject to what the law says, we will also get a deputy governorship candidate but we will cross those bridges as they arise but they have not arisen yet.’’

Commenting on Falake’s statement that he will not to be available for swearing-in on Jan. 27, 2016, he said, “as a political party, we simply understand the frustration that emanated from the death of Abubakar Audu.

“However, it is normal for us to accommodate the immediate reactions coming from the people involved.

“They were at the gate of victory but the gate was shut in their faces because of the unfortunate death of their mentor, Abubakar Audu, who would have been our governor in the state.

“So, a lot of things which normally we would not have accepted happened but we have to accept them so long that everybody will simmer down as time pass by.

“Wielding the big stick in a situation like this might not be appropriate but there will be a timeline to it, enough will be enough at a certain time.’’

Read also: Kogi: Bello begs Faleke to accept ‘will of God’

Speaking further, Odigie-Oyegun said issues in the state have been resolved in favour of the APC even as the entire polity had to be original to finding solutions to problems which were not detailed in the Constitution.

“In the next few weeks depending on who goes to court or who doesn’t, we will know the boundaries of the law in respect of these issues.

“As at now we are very glad with the results that we have got and I’m very sure that they would be upheld virtually in every tribunal whatsoever, because we have adopted simple commonsense solution, legally defendable,’’ he said.

He said that the party was not disturbed by the cases in court on the Kogi situation, stating that it was still evolving.

‘’We cross every bridge as we get to it; we’ll wait and see who does what and work out answers that meet each situation

“We have thought the process through and we have won the election in Kogi; those we feel aggrieved, it is for them to call to question whatever they feel aggrieved about and we are going to meet them on those grounds.

“For us in APC, Kogi is a settled issue; if you want to go to the tribunal, we’ll meet you there. If you want to go to court, we’ll meet you there,’’ he said.

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