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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Wednesday made an unusual history as the first elected governor to be sworn in without a deputy.
This happened after James Faleke made good his threat not to present himself for swearing in. The APC is yet to announce a replacement and the legal implication of that development remains unclear.
The Chief Judge of the state, Nasir Ajana, who administered the oath of office and that of allegiance on Bello without Faleke in attendance.
It is the first time in Nigeria’s political history that an elected governor would be inaugurated without a deputy.
The North-Central state had made another history late last year when a leading governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, died before its governorship election is concluded, throwing the state into what appeared a constitutional logjam.
Mr. Bello was picked by the All Progressives Congress to replace its late candidate, Mr. Audu.
Mr. Faleke objected to the party’s decision and approached the election tribunal in the state asking it to declare him governor-elect.
He contended that the election had been won and lost before Mr. Audu died and that he (Faleke) should have been pronounced governor-elect