Kogi Election: Guber Aspirant Plots To Sabotage Election, Group Says

Ahead of the November 21 Kogi governorship election, a youth group in the state, Kogi East Youth Front has alleged that a governorship aspirant is plotting to sabotage the election of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Abubakar Audu.

All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Abubakar Audu.

The group said the petition the aspirant, Yahaya Bello to the Kogi state governorship congress appeal committee seeking to replace Mr. Audu’s candidature was uncalled for.

“All the propaganda of Audu stealing N11 billion and promising to return it can be traceable to this fellow obviously working with the enemies of the candidate,” the group said.

“It was this same fellow who is behind the party’s appeal committee’s recommendation asking for the disqualification of Audu on the ground of corruption even when he has not been convicted of anything.

“Even while it is clear that this fellow cannot get anywhere, he is unrelenting. It is therefore open to conclusion that he is playing the same ethnic card against Audu,” the group said in a statement by its President, Abimaje Ocheni and secretary, Grace Ebune.

The group also alleged that the choice of James Faleke, an Okun-Yoruba from the western senatorial district, as a running mate to Mr. Audu had also been tribalised.

It said it was not true that the APC governorship candidate entered a secret pact with the Okun people to cede power to them after his tenure.

“The Ebiras have already previously enjoyed the position of governorship in a democratic arrangement in the person of Adamu Attah of blessed memory in the old Kwara State,” the group said.

“However the closest the Okuns have come to the revered position is deputy, first by Chief Sam Akande and now Architect Yomi Awoniyi.

“But even in this regard the Ebiras have produced deputy governors in Kogi State for a total period of 13 years – 1999 to 2012 in the persons of Chief Patrick Adaba (1999 -2003) as Audu deputy, and Philip Salawu who was deputy to Alhaji Ibahim Idris (2003 -2012).

“The tenure of the Okuns as deputy cumulatively amounts to only five years. Chief Sam Akande as Adoja’s deputy (1992 -1993) and Awoniyi (2012 – 2016).”

The group appealed to Ebira members of the party to rise above ethnic sentiments and work for the success of the party and its candidate.