Crisis In Kogi: Read Why APC Governor-Elect Is Unsettled

Reports by The Sun strongly suggests that a major crisis might be imminent in Kogi state due to some political hiccups that threatens the peace of the state.

Sources say the All Progressive Congress (APC) governor -elect, Yahaya Bello seems unsettled over who to chose as his deputy ahead of his inauguration scheduled for Wednesday, January 27.

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Following the alleged decision of the state’s deputy governor-elect, James Faleke to boycott the January 27 swearing-in ceremony, Bello is said to be in a fix as the tenure of Governor Idris Wada of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will effectively expire on Wednesday when the new governor-elect  is expected to be sworn in as the governor of the state.

The state APC and the governor elect are said to be at a cross road on who to chose as the deputy governor.

Sources say there are about six people lobbying to be appointed as deputy governor to Bello including Chief Clarence Olafemi, the former Speaker and acting governor in 2008 who hails from Mopa, the home town of the outgoing deputy governor Yomi Awoniyi.

Also atop the lobbying list is one Justina Abanida, a former commissioner for Justice who hails from Egbe which like Mopa is also in the western senatorial district of the state.

It was also gathered that one Dr Kole Bamisaiye, a staff in the National Assembly who hails from Ekirin adde, the home town of Faleke and one Barrister Tokunbo Asubiojo from Iffe -Ijumu and one Kayode Olomo from Ponyan in Yagba east,  are all vying for the plum position.

There are speculation that Bello and the APC may have finally settled for Simon Achuba, a former deputy speaker in the House of Assembly who hails from Ibaji local government area of the state.

Achuba who before now was a member of PDP is said to have worked seriously for Governor Wada at the last year governorship election.

Rumours from some corner suggests that the outgoing Governor Wada may jet out of the country before the swearing- in date, in a bid to not handover directly to Bello.

A source within the government house said the governor may after all hand over the reins of government to the embattled Speaker of the House, Hon Momoh Jimoh who is still being recognized as Speaker, after being removed by  15 of the 21 House members last December.

It would  be recalled that Hon James Faleke was the running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu in the November 21, 2015 governorship election.  The parliamentarian whose sack has been requested by the PDP, refused to accept the position of deputy governor to Bello who was allegedly hand picked by the APC to replace Audu who died on Sunday, November  22, 2015  while the election result was being collated.

Faleke who claimed he was not consulted before Bello was appointed as replacement to Audu had since headed to the judiciary where he urged the court to declare him as the governor -elect. The case is still subsisting.

At the last sitting of the tribunal, the chairman, Justice Halima Mohammed refused the application of the Labour Party urging it to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the swearing in of Bello on Wednesday on the ground that the motion was not properly filed while the tribunal had ordered the Bailiff to serve Bello who was alleged to be evasive by substituted means.

According to judicial precedence, it will be a serious negation of  the Rule of Law and the constitutional provision for a governor to be sworn in without a deputy governor, seeing that this is a major ingredient required by democratic norms for an executive governor to be so recognized.

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