All Progressive Congress (APC) stakeholders from Kogi state belonging to the Abubakar Audu group have distanced themselves from the purported endorsement of Governor Yahaya Bello by some members of the state leadership of the party.
A faction of the state executive committee led by the state secretary, Salam Adejo, addressed a press conference in Abuja on Sunday where they denied endorsement of the governor for a second term.
Held at the Maitama residence of late former Kogi State Governor, Audu, the press briefing attracted several members of the state APC executive committee.
With Adejo were APC State Organising Secretary, Isah Abubakar; Zonal Youth Leader, Hon. Noah Akwu; APC Bassa LGA Chairman, Mallam Isiaka S. Ibrahim alongside stakeholders and governorship aspirants under the platform of the APC in Kogi state.
Adejo said the meeting that the stakeholders held with Governor Bello did not have endorsing him on its agenda, saying that such stakeholders could not, therefore, have endorsed him for a second tenure.
Speaking on the meeting with Governor Bello where he was purportedly endorsed, the party scribe said: “Our discussion ended at the need for peace so that the party can move forward. He said he needed a sincere peace and we agreed on terms. There was nothing like an endorsement.
“The terms we agreed on was that our allowances should be paid and other packages that we are entitled to will be given to us. And we all agreed on these terms.”
Adejo added: “The governor requested for the case in court to be withdrawn. We told him there are some processes to be followed. The issue of withdrawing the case is subject to another negotiation.”
The state secretary also noted that it was not in the state executives’ position to endorse any aspirants, adding that the party governorship ticket was open to every qualify party member.
“We did not endorse anyone and we are not planning to. The party’s ticket is open to everyone in the party,” he said
When asked whether based on the performance of Governor Bello, he was deserving of a second term, Adejo said: “The party has its own criteria on what they want from a candidate. If someone has performed well or is an achiever, it will speak for itself. Yahaya has been far away from us, since then he has not been properly directed.”
On last week’s “representing” of Bello by Kogi traditional rulers to President Muhammadu Buhari for his endorsement, Adejo said the royal fathers have no business endorsing the governor as it was a political affair.