A major constitutional crisis looms in Kogi State as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor-elect, Yahaya Bello, is reportedly confused on a choice of deputy ahead of Wednesday, January 27 inauguration.

The tenure of Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will effectively expire that day when Bello is expected to be sworn in as governor, but he and his party, the APC in the state, are said to be at a crossroad on who to choose as his deputy.

It was learnt that this crisis was fueled by the refusal of James Faleke, running mate to Prince Abubakar Audu in the November 21 governorship election to accept the position of deputy to Bello who replaced Audu who died on November 22, 2015 when the election result was being collated.

Faleke, who claimed he was not consulted before APC picked Bello to replace Audu has since headed to the tribunal where he urged the law court to declare him as governor-elect. The case subsists at the tribunal.

At the last sitting of the tribunal, Justice Halima Mohammed, who is the chairman, refused the application of the Labour Party, urging it to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the swearing in of Bello on Wednesday on the ground that the motion was not properly filed while the tribunal had ordered the bailiff to serve Bello who was said to be evasive by substituted means.

Already, about six people are said to be lobbying to be appointed as deputy governor to Bello including Chief Clarence Olafemi, former speaker of the House of Assembly and acting governor in 2008 who hails from Mopa, the hometown of the outgoing deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi.

Obafemi is from Mopa in the Western senatorial district, which has produced two deputy governors.

Also, top of those lobbying for the plum job, is one Justina Abanida, a former commissioner for Justice who hails from Egbe, also in the Western senatorial district of the state.

It was also learnt that one Dr. Kole Bamisaiye, a staff in the National Assembly who hails from Ekirin Adde, the hometown of Faleke and one Tokunbo Asubiojo from Iffe-Ijumu and one Kayode Olomo from Ponyan in Yagba East are also jostling for the position of the deputy governor.

But, a top party source told Daily Sun, that Bello and the APC may have finally settled for Simon Achuba, a former deputy speaker in the House of Assembly who hails from Ibaji Local Government Area of the state. Achuba was before now a member of PDP who was said to have worked seriously for Governor Wada at the last year governorship election.

Again, it was learnt that the outgoing governor Wada may not hand over the reins of government directly to Bello as it is being rumoured that he may have jetted out of the country before the swearing- in date.

A source at the government house said the governor may after all hand over the reins of government to the embattled Speaker of the House, Hon Momoh Jimoh who was last December removed by 15 of the 21 House members, but he is still being recognized as Speaker by the outgoing governor.

Both the governor elect and the Speaker are of the same Ebira tribal stock from the Central axis of the state. (Daily Sun)

•Photo shows Kogi Governor-Elect, Yahaya Bello.

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