Politics: Tension heightens as Faleke, Bello’s supporters clash at APC national secretariat

FALEKE and BELLO

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

The atmosphere around the national secretariat of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Abuja has become tense following a clash between supporters of Yahaya Bello and Hon. James Faleke.

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Both have entrenched interest in the Kogi State election and are jostling to replace the former governorship candidate of the party, late Abubakar Audu.

While Bello, who was the second runner up in the primary election that featured Audu as candidate is rumoured to have been endorsed by the party for the replacement, Faleke, Audu’s former running in the November 21 inconclusive election, is asking the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the APC to declare him both the standard candidate and Governor-Elect.

INEC has slated December 5 as the day for supplementary polls.

The situation has consequently boxed the APC to a corner but the party has scheduled a meeting of its stakeholders today to resolve the impasse.

At the moment, the relevant stakeholders in the election are locked up in a meeting.

Bello had earlier entered for the meeting.

Coming afterwards was Hon. Faleke.

Governor Nasir El-R0ufai of Kaduna State and Senator Dino Melaye are also in the meeting.

Interestingly, El-Rufia was the chairman the panel that conducted Kogi APC primary election recently.

Meanwhile, the supporters of both contenders mainly “jobless” youth had a fleeting clash of strength at the party secretariat.

Stones, clubs and sticks were freely used as they chanted the names of the contenders respectively to show their preference.

The unhealthy development created fear in most people around the APC vicinity.

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It took a reinforcement of stern-looking policemen to chase the restive youths away, thereby restoring sanity.

The meeting is still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.