By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
Indications emerged yesterday on the reason President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and some prominent leaders of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), refused to openly campaign for the party’s governorship candidate in Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu ahead of the state’s governorship election later in the month.
In the same vein, the governorship candidate of the APC for Bayelsa, Chief Timipre Sylva, is also said to be having some challenges mobilising for his campaign in Yenagoa, which Blueprint reliably gathered may face boycott by some prominent party members.
According to our findings, Sylva is also facing some corrupt charges brought against him by a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja. Although, a date is yet to be fixed for his mega rally in Yenagoa, a top APC source said; “Buhari and top prominent party members may also take a distance from the event”
Our correspondent leant that hundreds of APC supporters who gathered on Saturday at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja for the major campaign rally and the presentation of flag to Audu, were disappointed following the absence of both President Buhari, the VP, some governors and prominent party leaders.
A top member of the party confided in Blueprint that the president made it clear not to associate with any party member who has questions to answer from the anti-graft agencies.
According to Premiums Times, an online media, chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, wrote a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, seeking the disqualification of the former governor from contesting the November 21 state governorship election.
According to the report, in a letter dated September 21, 2015, with reference number EFCC/EC/SGF/03/59, and titled “F.R.N Vs Abubakar Audu & 1 other Charge No: FCT/CR/115/ 2013”, the EFCC chair reminded the SGF that Audu was standing trial for corruption.
“The candidate was arraigned by the Commission for abuse of office, theft of public funds and money laundering during his tenure as Executive Governor of Kogi state between 1999 and 2003 at both Kogi High Court, Lokoja in 2006 and the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo Abuja in 2013”, Lamorde wrote.
He recalled that “the Lokoja case was stalled for six years on the account of frivolous interlocutory applications by the accused person, which has taken us twice to the Supreme Court and eventually decided in the commission’s favour on 23rd November 2012.
“The trial effectively continued in 2013 with the filing of fresh charges in Abuja. Eight prosecution witnesses have so far given evidence and 166 exhibits tendered at the proceedings, while the case adjourned till 14th October 2015 for continuation of trial.
“We are genuinely concerned that the trial will be suspended for another four years if Prince Audu emerges as Kogi state governor, similar to the situation of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state.
“While not being unmindful of the constitutional presumption of innocence of all accused persons until proven guilty, we are nevertheless greatly concerned that swearing in of another accused person as Executive Governor in Nigeria may not be in consonance with the current anti-corruption policy of the new administration”.
And accordingly, the report said the SGF immediately wrote to the APC national secretariat, urging it to take “necessary action”.
In a letter dated September 22, 2015, referenced SGF.30/S.11/T, the SGF said “I wish to forward the attached document from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the above subject matter for your information and action.”
