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A female Governorship Aspirant under APC in Kogi, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim, has expressed shock over the sudden withdrawal of Hon. James Faleke from the governorship race in the state.
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Monday in Lokoja, Ibrahim said she was shocked when she heard the news on Monday morning that Faleke had withdrawn from the race.
A group in APC across three senatorial districts of Kogi, had purchased the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Intent forms for Faleke, urging him to contest for the November govership election.
However, Faleke in a chat with newmen on Sunday declared that he would not participate in the Kogi Governorship race due to his desire to subject his personal interest to national interest.
Faleke urged those that bought the form not to lose hope of a better Kogi without him, adding that he will still add value to the State in many other ways.
The APC female Aspirant expressed disappointment that she jettisoned her ambition for the governorship race by stepping aside for Faleke, whom she described as her mentor.
”The perturbing part of it is that I got to know that Hon. Faleke has withdrawn from the race this morning, which is quite embarrassing to me because he should have let us know a week before today.
”I took the strong decision to have stepped down for Faleke being my mentor that I look upto because we have been working together for long,” she said.
Ibrahim added: ”I have been in the race for the esteemed seat of Governor of Kogi from 2015 to 2019 for which I participated in primaries.
”In 2023, I have also been in the race for the Governorship of Kogi state-under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
”l wish to state emphatically that the reason why I did not obtain the Expression of Interest form for the APC Governorship primary election coming up in April was born out of some political reasons.
”The time Faleke is withdrawing is too late; I am shock that he withdrew without informing us. I am confused that he withdrew at this critical time when we have stepped aside for him”.
According to her, the ambition is born out of the genuine desire to provide a people-oriented leadership that would ensure the provision ‘of the needed gains of democracy to our people in line with their wishes and aspirations.
”I have no cause not to be in the race because I have all it takes to contest the governorship election,” she restated.
Ibrahim, therefore urged national leadership of APC to extend the collection of forms to enable her participate in the party’s governorship primaries.
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