Wada Challenges Outcome Of Kogi Election At Tribunal

Channels Tv

The Governor of Kogi State and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) at the Kogi governorship election, Captain Idris Wada, has filed a petition at the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, challenging the outcome of the exercise.

Governor Wada’s spokesman, Mr Jacob Edi, told Channels Television on Wednesday that Captain Wada had dragged the Governor-elect, Mr Yahaya Bello, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission to the Tribunal.

The Governor is praying the Tribunal to declare him winner of the exercise, arguing that Mr Bello was not qualified to be declared winner and did not have a deputy governor, a situation he claimed disqualified him from vying for the governor’s position.

Mr Bello was a substitute for the late candidate of the APC, Mr Abubakar Audu, who died a day after the governorship election.

Late Audu’s deputy, Honourable James Faleke, had wanted the position of the governorship candidate after Mr Audu died, but the party submitted Mr Bello’s name as the late candidate’s substitute, saying he was next to Late Audu in the election primaries. The party also retained Mr Faleke as the deputy.

The decision of the party angered Mr Faleke and he subsequently disassociated himself from the deputy governor’s position.

He had insisted that he should be declared the winner of the election, a claim he has also approached the Tribunal to push.

The election process took a twist when INEC declared the polls inconclusive, setting a date for a re-run which was held after the APC had substituted its late governorship candidate.

Still not interested in the deputy governor’s position, Mr Faleke filed a petition on Tuesday. He is challenging the decision of INEC in declaring the election of November 21 inclusive.