“I was also not an aspirant at the primary election, but one of the conditions Audu picked me as his running mate was because I am a member of the APC.”
He called on the State Election Petition Tribunal which is holding its session in Abuja, to declare him the validly elected governor of Kogi State.
Faleke is being led in evidence at the tribunal by his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
He told the tribunal that he did not know any of the candidates who contested with the late Audu even as he said:“I did not see the result of the primary election because I left the venue, but the next information I had is that late Audu won the primary and I was chosen as the running mate.”
Faleke argued that the death of Audu had nothing to do with the inconclusiveness of the election and that they had already won before it was declared inconclusive.
He said that he knew they had already won the November 21 governorship election and that was why he did not participate in the December 5 election.
“Myself and Prince Audu were declared winners at each polling unit, ward collation centre, each local government and the state collation centre.
“The state’s Returning Officer declared the result at the state collation centers.
“Prince Audu died in the morning and the election was declared inconclusive in the evening.
“So it was declared inconclusive far after the death.”
When asked during cross-examination by the Counsel to the 1st respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)), if he was still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Faleke responded by saying yes, adding: “I am not aware that the 2nd respondent, Governor Yahaya Bello, is a member of the APC. All I know is that the 2nd respondent campaigned and worked for the Peoples Democratic Party.
Part of the documents that was tendered and admitted in evidence were Form CF001, Form CF002 and many more. [myad]
