A former deputy gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, has stated that despite unwarranted diatribe from critics to distract him from supporting Governor Yahaya Bello in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, he remains a strong member of the party.

He maintained that no matter the insults and name-calling, he remains unperturbed and undistracted from giving his full support to APC in the coming governorship election.

In a statement issued over last weekend in Lokoja by Team Faleke, signed on its behalf by Temibi Samuel, Faleke said: “In the shambolically vague epistle, Momoh Abigail had accused Hon. James Abiodun Faleke for falling for the promises of handing over power to him in 2023 by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, he also retrogressed by lamenting that Hon James Faleke was “imposed” on the Kogi APC in 2015 to become a deputy to the late Prince Abubakar Audu.

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have dissipated our time in responding to a phantom writer like Momoh Abigail but for the sake of clarity, probity and to be responsive to unworthy allegations, accusations and or criticisms which includes this, we will set the record straight without a scintilla of ambiguity.

“Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was then a second-term member House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency under the platform of the APC when he came to Kogi State to deputize the flagbearer of the APC for 2015 governorship election, Late Prince Abubakar Audu, the decision of the party to make Hon James Faleke the party deputy governorship candidate could be linked to his unflinching support and commitment to the party both at Lagos and in his Kogi home country.

“We all recalled that Hon James Faleke was in his Ekinrin-Adde country home in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state to canvass support for the Late Prince Audu who was the candidate of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which merged with other political parties to form the party popularly known today as APC.

“Faleke has long before now been participating in Kogi Politics, using his hard-earned resources as a Lagos based politician to support and mobilize Kogites in support of the opposition party as Kogi was predominantly ruled by the PDP. For the first time in history, it was the political influence, pedigree and goodwill of same Faleke that gave victory to APC against PDP in 2016 gubernatorial election.

“Faleke’s continued loyalty and commitment to the party and its founder coupled with his political experience, achievements and his leadership proficiency instigated the resolve of APC to make him the deputy governorship candidate to Late Prince Abubakar Audu, Faleke was not imposed in any way, he had worked and laboured for it, anything contrary to this is fallacious and mischievous,” the statement noted.

“However we also wish to state that, Hon. Faleke was already a registered voter in Kogi as of the time he was appointed deputy governorship candidate.

“It’s not out of place for members of a political party to express their grievances and disenchantment through every available legal means, it’s called internal party conflict, which was what happened between members of Audu/Faleke and Yahaya Bello.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) had made a frantic move in the past to reconcile the aggrieved members of the Audu/Faleke political family and Governor Yahaya Bello government to come together in unity and form a formidable force towards winning the coming election. The fruitful meeting of Faleke and Bello on Sunday was the outcome of the reconciliation move and all hatchets were buried in the interest of the party.

“Faleke’s decision to support the party APC in the coming Kogi gubernatorial election was borne out of his continued commitment and loyalty to the party as there are no other available options better than the APC. It’s obvious some people are already jittery over the massive followership of James Abiodun Faleke in Kogi State and are losing sleep over the recent developments.

“God giveth and taketh power, 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi State is in God’s hand and HE alone will choose,” the statement affirmed.

Update news