Disturbed by the report of double voter’s registration by the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state has asked the governor to immediately resign from office or risk impeachment.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on Thursday alleged that Governor Bello registered double in separate designated voter units and that the act is fraudulent and punishable by law.

The commission said because of the governor’s immunity, his trial and prosecution is at the moment on hold.

But the leadership and prominent political chieftains of the ruling party, while reacting to the alleged offence at a press briefing in Abuja, insisted that the governor must vacate his office.

Citing the allegation against the governor that he committed electoral fraud for registering twice in separate voter registration units, the party insisted Bello must quit the juicy political seat.

The APC chieftains, including Senators Dino Melaye, Ocheja Dangana, Abdulrahaman Abubakar and Mohammed Ohiare, past senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo, said the governor’s alleged criminal act has brought embarrassment to the entire state.

Ametuo told journalists that with the shame brought to the state by the action of the governor, the party will not hesitate to mobilise a protest and organise members of the state Assembly for an urgent impeachment process should he (Bello) refuse to resign.

Earlier, Senator Melaye, who described the governor’s act as not just criminal, shameful and however condemnable, stated that the leadership of the party in the state has disassociated itself from any act of fraud.

Regretting why the party supported Bello as governorship candidate in the last election, Senator Melaye revealed that it was not initially known that the embattled governor was never a registered member of the party.

“The APC in Kogi State wish to condemn in its entirety, the fraudulent behaviour of Governor Bello for registering twice as pointed out by INEC and this has embarrassed our party and the entire Kogi State. We disassociate ourselves from the criminal act.

“We are calling immediately for the resignation of the governor because a fraudulent person awaiting trial cannot represent the good people of Kogi State.

“If he fails to resign, we shall mobilise the state assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor. If he fails to comply, we shall mobilise to the APC national Secretariat and the INEC office to show that power belongs to the people. If this is not corrected immediately, it will give APC the electoral deficit in 2019,” the senator said. (Nigerian Pilot)

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