The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State yesterday questioned the continued representation of the people of Ikeja Federal Constituency in House of Representatives by Hon. James Faleke, who was the running mate to the late Abubakar Audu in the last Kogi state governorship election.
The Lagos PDP accused Faleke, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “desperation, political immorality and gross violation of the spirit of our electoral laws”.
Faleke, who has approached the governorship election petitions tribunal to declare him as governor of Kogi State following the sudden death of Audu midway into the declaration of the election results, also vowed not to present himself for swearing-in as deputy to Governor-elect Yahaya Bello come January 26
Bello was nominated by the APC as late Audu’s replacement and was subsequently declared winner of the election by the electoral body, a decision that did not go down well with Faleke and his supporters.
However, the Lagos PDP expressed concern that, Faleke who currently represents Ikeja federal constituency in Lagos, had transferred his voter’s card and constituency to Kogi state.
The PDP Chairman in Lagos, Capt. Tunji Shelle (retd.) told newsmen yesterday that the continued membership of the House by Faleke was improper and unfair to the people of Ikeja in Lagos whom he represents.
Mr. Shelle, therefore, issued a seven – day ultimatum “for Hon James Faleke to declare his present place of voter’s registration and for the INEC to clear the air on the appropriateness of Hon. Faleke inter changing polling units within a scope of less than six months”.
He also called on the House of Representatives not to be partisan in the matter by “making public its unequivocal stance on the propriety or otherwise of Faleke’s continued membership of the house of Representatives representing Ikeja in Lagos state, even after transferring its voter card and constituency to Kogi State”.
The Lagos PDP further described the present status of Faleke in the green chamber as that of a usurper, who should no longer be fit and proper to be called an “Honourable”.
“If the demand is not met within the period of this ultimatum, we shall use all means permitted and effective to reclaim the seat for Lagos state”, Shelle said in a statement.
