There was wild jubilation in parts of the Central Senatorial District of Kogi State yesterday, following the choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, popularly known as ‘Fair Plus’ as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 supplementary governorship election in the state.
Bello, who came second in the August 29, 2015 governorship primaries of the party, was picked to replace the late Prince Abubakar Audu on the APC ticket after the demise of the latter on Sunday, November 22, 2015 while collation of result of the election held the previous day was still ongoing.
The death of Audu had thrown up a legal challenge not contemplated by either the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, a situation which compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give the APC the opportunity to substitute its governorship candidate.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that soon as the news of Bello’s choice filtered in yesterday morning, many party faithful took to the streets in celebration, saying the long awaited power rotation had finally taken place in the state.
Bello is of the Ebira ethnic group in Central senatorial district. Since the creation of the state, only the Igalas have governed the state.
LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that power rotation was a major issue in the campaigns of the candidates of the leading political parties in the build up to the election.
While the people of the central district jubilated yesterday, youths in the Eastern senatorial district, claiming to be supporters of the APC, blocked the Itobe Bridge in Ofu local government area of the state in protest over the choice of Bello.
The protest which lasted over five hours, according to witnesses, made commuters travelling through the state stranded. The blocked road links the state to the eastern part of the country. The situation also led to a traffic gridlock that stretched almost into Idah. Idah is the seat of the Attah Igala.
The late Audu hailed from Ofu local government and Itobe Bridge which was blocked by the protesters links Ajaokuta and Itobe.
The protesters, it was gathered, made bonfires on the road, around Ibro Junction, close to the house of former governor of the state, Ibrahim Idris, while the protest lasted. The police, it was also gathered, had a hard time dispersing the rampaging youths.
LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that APC stakeholders in the eastern district had canvassed that the son of the late Audu, Mohammed, be chosen as replacement for his deceased father, in the supplementary election.
Spokesman of the state police command, ASP Willam Ovye, in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP Sunday yesterday, confirmed that there was a protest but added that as soon as the police got wind of it, they moved in and dispersed the protesters.
“Yes there was a protest but the situation is now under control and commuters are moving freely,” he said.
He added that no arrest was made.
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