We will defend mandate of Kogi people – Faleke

Running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu, the APC Kogi governorship candidate, Mr James Abiodun Faleke, yesterday vowed not to allow anyone ‘steal’ the mandate jointly given to the late Audu and himself on November 21 by the Kogi electorate.
Faleke who addressed APC supporters at the residence of late Prince Audu in Lokoja, said he was on the ‘same page’ with the late Audu’s political family in calling on the national leadership of the party to respect the mandate.
“All shades of opinions have been expressed by Nigerians who have offered me various baits but I wish to make it abundantly clear that this struggle is not only for me.  As matter of fact, it is beyond me and it has become a moral burden on my shoulders to defend on behalf of the political family of late Prince Abubakar Audu, the interest, views and vision of our late leader. Mohammed Audu, the first son of Prince Abubakar Audu and myself are on the same page on this matter and are both resolved to do right by the law”, he said.
Faleke noted that it would be unfair for the national leadership of the APC to settle for someone who never worked for the success of the party but rather engaged in anti-party activities.
“Did Alhaji Yahaya Bello participate fully in all the stages of the election ? The answer is No. While his participation in the primaries is not in doubt, he did not participate in campaigns, meetings, neither did he mobilise voters to vote for our party.
“Instead, we have it on INEC records that he lost not only his polling unit, but also his Ward. This presupposes that he worked against our part in the election. For emphasis, the result from his polling unit is APC-88 PDP-119, his ward’s result is APC-1,146 to PDP-2,058”, Faleke said.
He urged the Kogi electorate and teeming supporters of the late Prince Abubakar Audu to remain peaceful and law abiding, saying: “No matter how long it takes, your mandate will be defended, sustained and maintained.”
Earlier, the State Chairman, Prince Abubakar Audu/James Faleke Campaign Council, Mr Humphrey Abba, said democracy is all about the people and criticised any move by the APC national working committee to impose a candidate on the people.
“The people of Kogi have the right to choose who they want. Abuja cannot impose a candidate on us. APC must give effect to the decision of our people. The APC National Working Committee must give effect to the anti-corruption stand of President Buhari,” he said.