The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has backed moves by the Governor-elect of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to replace the Deputy Governor- Elect, Hon. Abiodun Faleke, ahead of the January 27th date for their inauguration.
Faleke has consistently refused the position of deputy governorship candidate of the APC since the demise of the governorship candidate of the party, Prince Abubakar Audu on November 23, 2015. After Bello was declared winner of the December 5 supplementary election, the running mate had disclosed that he will not be available for the swearing in.
Faleke had since instituted a case at the court questioning the replacement of Audu with Bello by the national leadership of APC for the supplementary election. As the inauguration draws near, reports have been rife that the incoming Governor is shopping for the replacement of the deputy governor-elect for the swearing-in.
Reacting to this, the APC National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire, stated that there is no law that says a governor must be sworn in with a deputy governor, adding that what the law provided for is that a governorship candidate must contest with running mate and Yahaya Bello fulfilled the condition.
According to him, “The governor contested with a Deputy. Secondly, no law says that a Governor cannot be sworn in, in the absence of a Deputy. Hence, the requirement of the law for valid nomination has been met.”
Also speaking on speculations that Bello was looking for the replacement of the deputy governor-elect for his swearing-in slated for Wednesday, the APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Lawal Shuiabu told New Telegraph that the Governor-elect has the prerogative to choose who to work with.
