Why Faleke Should Be Declared Kogi Guber Candidate – Ex-inec Coordinator

A former coordinator of the Independent National

Electoral Commission Institute, Frank Ozoh, has argued

that James Faleke, the running mate to Kogi APC

governorship candidate should be declared candidate of

the APC by the electoral commission.

Mr. Ozoh told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Thursday

in Abuja that since the candidate, Abubakar Audu, died

during the inconclusive election, his running mate should

be declared the party’s candidate for the supplementary

election.

He said in a telephone chat that failure to field Mr. Faleke

as candidate necessitates fresh election.

“Otherwise, there should be a re-run election, so that all

aggrieved persons will participate in the re-run; once there

is the position of a running mate, then there is already a

joint ticket.

“It is not possible for the votes of late Audu to be

transferred to another person who did not contest in an

election since our electoral system is not based on

transferable vote system like we have in India.

“Once we are making a return, we say this candidate,

having polled majority of the votes and having met the

constitutional requirements; we don’t say this party.

“Therefore, the votes are for the candidates and not for the

party,” he said.

Mr. Ozoh, however, said that the issue of inconclusive

election first came up in 2010, and made the electoral

institute to review the Manual for Election Officials while

he was the coordinator of the institute.

“The then chairman of INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, used the

procedure for the re-run of 2009 Ekiti election,’’ he said.

Mr. Ozoh therefore urged the commission to ensure that

political stakeholders in Kogi adhere to due process during

the supplementary election.