The Kogi youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are protesting the imposition of Yahaya Bello as the gubernatorial candidate of the party because Bello had also picked the form of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to contest d last election in the State.
Bello, also known as fair plus, had chosen Olusola George Olumoroti as his deputy governorship candidate to contest the inconclusive election in Kogi as SDP candidate.
Yahaya Bello, who was runner up to the late APC’s Gubernatorial Candidate for Kogi, Prince Abubakar during the APC Primaries, also stepped down from SDP to campaign for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and incumbent Governor Idris Wada.
The power brokers in Abuja led by the Secretary to the Government, Dr. Babachar Lawal, are however applying pressure on APC leadership to impose a defected candidate.
The attached picture shows Bello’s campaign poster to contest the elections in Kogi State, shortly after losing the APC primaries to the late Audu.
Meanwhile, the APC has declared that contrary to notions held in certain quarters, it has not settled for anybody as replacement for its deceased candidate in the Kogi governorship poll, Prince Abubakar Audu.
Acting national publicity secretary of the party, Mr. Timi Frank, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the party would take a final position on Audu’s replacement on Sunday, adding that the party was still consulting on the matter.
“We are still consulting on the issue; we would take a final stand on the issue of Audu’s replacement on Monday and we are definitely going to issue a statement on the issue,” he stated.
Frank spoke against the backdrop of speculations making the rounds that the APC had settled for Alhaji Yahaya Bello as Prince Audu ‘s replacement.
Bello, Ibira, from the Kogi central senatorial district, popularly referred to as “fairplus” by his supporters had emerged runner-up to Prince Audu during the Kogi governorship primary.
However, there is division amongst stakeholders of the Kogi chapter of APC as those mainly from the more populous Kogi East axis are rooting for Mohammed, the eldest son of Prince Audu, while their counterpart from Kogi West or Okun axis express preference for Mr. James Abiodun Faleke.
Faleke, who presently represents Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was Prince Audu’s running mate in the inconclusive governorship poll.
