A group, the Kogi Equity Front, has kicked against the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold supplementary election in the state.
Rather than holding supplementary election, the group posited that the late Abubakar Audu’s running mate, James Abiodun Faleke, should be declared winner of the governorship election.
The statement signed by the Director General of the group, Pastor Stanley Ajileye, reads:
“The sudden death of our energetic prince, our agent of development and the architect of Kogi Transformation, Abubakar Audu, is unfortunate. Prince Audu died at a time we need him most. May heaven console his family, especially, his wives, children and the good people of I gala land of Kogi State.
“We wish to also use this medium to console our brother and uncle, Hon James Faleke, who has become so knitted with Audu in the past months, sharing views and drawing new templates on how to move the state out of woods. I pray for him, fortitude to bear with reality of Audu’s sudden departure and extra grace to carry on with the pending responsibilities
“We can confirm today that the problems we are confronted with now is not unconnected with moves by few elements within the fold of national executives of APC in Abuja to attempt the stopping of the hand of God over this state.. Some of them are already working in tandem with INEC to frustrate power shift in Kogi. Many of them are already making desperate moves at blackmailing Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, that he is plotting a graph for power shift in Kogi State
“An official letter of protest has been sent by party stakeholders in Kogi state, to protest the inconclusive status hanged on Saturday’s election, after discovery that the figure quoted by INEC in respect of registered voters in those units that were affected by INEC cancelation was over blown. It was discovered that only only 25,000 pvc was issued by INEC in respect of those units. Besides, over 7000 of the cards are still unclaimed in INEC custody. How Prof Emmanuel Kucha arrived at his 49000 figure remains suspect. The letter was to be signed by the national exco of the party for onward transmission to INEC headquarters. However as I write, they refused to sign let alone forwarding the letter to INEC. They claimed the president is not around and that they must wait for him. Yet the letter must get to INEC not later than 72 hours from Sunday. By tomorrow, the period of grace will expire.
“Those officials behind this are believed to be those who are bent on seeing to it that power does not shift. This is against the spirit of equity.
“They are already plotting for the cancelation of last Saturday’s election for a fresh one and we must say ‘NO’
“KOGI EQUITY FRONT (KEF) is calling on all sons and daughters of Kogi State, to say a loud NOOO!!!!
“OUR DEMANDS
“1) immediate announcement of the winner if last Saturday’s election in line with section 179 of 1999 constitution which states as follow:
“‘A candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates; (a) he has the highest of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the State.
“2) Declaration of Audu’s running mate, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, as the eligible heir of the victory he jointly earned with Late Prince Audu in line with the provision of section 181(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)] the Supreme Court held, in effect, that ‘if a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of
Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy-Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the house of Assembly of the State’
“3) We wish to plead with President Mohammad Buhari to speak to the conscience of INEC and some selected leaders of APC in Abuja, not to provoke the peace loving people of Kogi State.
“Kogi Equity Front (KEF) may not be able to guarantee peace in the state, if INEC decides to go ahead with supplementary Election.
“We also call on all Kogite to resist with every constitutional means, attempts by INEC to shortchange or manipulate us through its unconstitutional supplementary election the plan to slate December 5.
“We say to INEC…
“1) No supplementary election
“2) No rescheduled primary
“3) Declare APC as winner now
4) Declare James Faleke as governor elect now
“We are ready to resist non adherence to this call.
“Kogites should await further instruction from KEF.
