Kogi State's Political Brouhaha

Uneasy pervades the political atmosphere of Kogi today as James Abiodun Faleke and Mr. Mohammed Audu were invited by operatives of the Directorate of State Security in Abuja. Supporters of the two politicians were apprehensive on the fate of their principals. James Abiodun Faleke, a second-term House of Representatives member was the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu. The late Prince Audu died before the governorship election was concluded in the state.

In view of the legal tussle of the scenario, Faleke has been consistently affirming that he was the rightful owner of the mandate given to him and the late Prince Abubakar Audu. He argued that the election of November 21, 2015 was concluded and that a winner had emerged. But contrary to Faleke’s position, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives
Congress presented Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello to INEC as replacement to the late Prince Abubakar
Audu on the strength that the Agassa-born business mogul came second in the party’s
governorship primaries. Faleke kicked and dragged INEC to a Federal High Court in Abuja with the hope of stopping the supplementary poll in the state.

Having emerged the Governor-Elect, all efforts by Alh. Yahaya Bello to woo Hon. Faleke to his side has proven abortive, as the latter has gone to the Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the victory of Bello. Also, it was alleged that many support groups in the state are threatening violence if Faleke was not declared winner of the election, a situation which might have prompted the DSS to invite him for questioning as the January 27 inauguration date draws by.

Sources that the Member of the House of Representatives arrived at the Headquarters of the security organization at about 10.00am this morning and has not been released as at the time of filing this report. The Director of Media and Publicity of Audu/Faleke Campaign Organization, Hon. Duro Meseko confirmed the invitation, saying the the campaign organization was yet to come to terms with the invitation at what he called, “a critical period in the struggle for the Lugard House through constitutional means”.

He said Hon. Faleke is a staunch believer in the rule of law and has decided to pursue his case through legal means. He expressed confidence in the non- partisanship of the DSS. When contacted, the image-maker of the DSS refused to answer several calls made to confirm the rationale behind the arrest. But a source within the organization confirmed the invitation.

 UPDATE!!!!

Kogi State Dep. Governor-elect, Mr James Faleke has been released by the operatives of the Directorate of the State Security Service (DSS). Mr Duro Meseko, the Director of Media and Publicity of Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisation confirmed it this evening that Faleke and Alhaji Mohammed Audu were released at about 5 p.m. He said that the duo had reported to the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja on invitation at about 10 a.m. only to be taken into custody without any cogent reason till 5p.m. when they were released.