Tinubu reportedly rejects Kogi APC candidate, supports Faleke

 According to reports, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has rejected the nomination of Yahaya Bello as the party’s candidate for the Kogi governorship elections and is instead insisting that James Faleke, the running mate to late Abubakar Audu, be chosen.

Audu was in the lead in the first set of elections, which held on November 21, 2015, before his sudden death on November 22.

The polls were later declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“As we speak, national leader of the party, Asiwaju Tinubu and his group are insisting on the withdrawal of Yahaya Bello, while another group supporting Bello are also kicking that Bello’s nomination remained,” a source reportedly told Leadership.

“The chairman is presently confused and threatening to withdraw Bello’s name and Faleke’s thereby leaving the party without any candidate,” the source added.

Audu’s death had resulted in confusion on how the new state governor would be chosen before INEC decided that the APC would be allowed to choose a replacement.

Audu’s son, Mohammed was initially billed to be his replacement but at the last minute, Bello was chosen.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is contesting INEC’s decision saying that its candidate and incumbent Governor, Idris Wada should be declared the winner of the polls.

INEC is expected to hold supplementary polls in Kogi on December 5 to decide on a winner.