Supreme Court affirms Bello as Kogi Governor

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the election of Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State, but said it would provide reasons for its decision on September 30.

The seven-man panel headed by Justice Sylvester Ngwata, in a unanimously judgment delivered in Abuja, dismissed the claim of James Faleke that he was the rightful candidate for the position.

It affirmed the election after listening to the closing statements of all the counsels.

Faleke was the running mate to the late Abubakar Audu who died before the November 2015 Kogi governorship election was concluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

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Photos: Kogi Women applaud Dino Melaye, blasts Remi Tinubu

The dispute between Senators Remi Tinubu and Dino Melaye has taken a new turn after the outburst on the floor of the National Assembly during a closed-door session last Tuesday. The feud between the two lawmakers has spurred Melaye’s supporters to begin a fight back.

A conference was staged on Tuesday by a group of Kogi State women where they called out Remi Tinubu while asking her to apologize to Melaye for allegedly calling him a ‘dog’.

According to the women, who used unpublishable names to describe the female senator, it was unbecoming of Tinubu, who was supposed to be a role model to women across the country to insult somebody else’s man just because they are colleagues.

The women, also printed banners with words like “Remi Tinubu must apologize to Dino Melaye” and “Lagos is not superior to Kogi” and “Kogi Women support Dino Melaye” among others. The group also said the female senator needed to be called to order because her actions on the floor of the House were getting out of hand.

The group stressed that just as Tinubu is representing Lagos, Melaye is also representing Kogi and should not be talked down as if he were of lesser import.

The women expressed their satisfaction that Melaye did not let down his state by allowing Remi Tinubu and her supporters intimidate him into silence.

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Tribunal reserves judgment in Kogi governorship election

Parties involved in the Kogi election tussle on Tuesday closed their petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for kogi sitting in Abuja.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the parties in the matter, Mr Oba Maduabuchi, told the tribunal that he had filed the party’s final written address.

Maduabuchi prayed the court to nullify the election of Gov. Yahaya Bello, on the grounds that he did poll the highest majority of votes during the election. He also told the tribunal that the election of the governor was devoid of the principle of the Electoral Act hence, should be nullified.

Counsel to the governor, Mr Babatunde Daudu, prayed the tribunal to discountenance and dismiss the ADC petition.

``The ADC petition lacks merit and there is no standard ground for which the petition should be given victory,’’ Daudu said.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Muhammad, reserved judgment after all the parties had filed their final written addresses.

Muhammad said that the judgment date would be communicated to all parties in the matter. 

(NAN)

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Photos: Kogi Gov. Bello Yahaya look alike

This is unbelievable! My friend here is Samuel of @KAP Studios, i knew him way back in college. When i saw the official portrait of Kogi State Governor, Alh. Bello Yahaya, i can't believe the resemblance, I immediately shared the image with my friend, he too was very surprised.

The mark on both faces, the jaw lines, the masculine face except the nose are same. Please if you know the Governor tell him i saw a brother of his. He needs to see this. I mean it. Do share with him and his aides. See more photos of my friend below to confirm the looks.....

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Kogi: Governor Bello appoints new SSG, Accountant-General, others

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has approved the appointment of Mrs Folashade Ayoade as the new Secretary to the State Government, SSG. Disclosing this on Tuesday in a statement by his Chief of Staff, David Onoja, Bello also named Alhaji Momoh Jubril as the new Accountant-General of the state.

The list of appointees included 20 new Special Advisers and three Senior Special Assistants on print media, electronic and new media. The new Senior Special Assistant on print media is Mr Ademu Idako who was until the appointment , the Correspondent of the Newswatch Daily and Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Kogi State.

Mrs Petra Akinti Onyebule and Mr Gbenga Olorunpomi are the new Senior Special Assistants on Electronic and New Media. Also appointed are Brig-Gen. Olusola Okutimo as the Security Adviser to the governor, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, Legal Adviser and Mr Abdulkareem Mohammed as the Director-General, Protocol.

The governor also approved the appointment of five special assistants to the Deputy-Governor.

NAN

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