The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Sunday described reports that he had withdrawn his support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as misleading and false.
The Quest Times recalls that multiple reports had earlier stated that the Governor reportedly made the decision to back down on his support for the APC candidate over controversies surrounding the gubernatorial ambitions of the Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Honourable James Faleke.
Faleke, who is a Federal lawmaker, is said to be nursing governorship ambitions which may not have gone down well with the sitting Governor.
Reacting earlier, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the speculations as “maliciously untrue and a fabrication of its creator and sponsors’ mind.”
He said, “the fake news” seeks to float a rift between Bello and Hon. James Faleke, secretary of the APC PCC.
“It is the desperate and disgraceful conjecture of opposition elements unsettled by our Party’s giant campaign strides.
“Both loyal party men are unquestionably committed and working tirelessly for the resounding victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in next month’s presidential election.”
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However, debunking reports on ChannelsTV programme ‘Sunday Politics’ on Sunday evening, Governor Bello said the speculations are false and misleading. He demanded that regulatory bodies regarding journalism practice live up to their responsibilities.
Bello who is the National Youth Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council, said “I woke up to see that fake news in the air today. It’s most unfortunate and I am urging all the law enforcement agents and all regulatory bodies regarding journalism and media practitioners that are practicing in Nigeria to please live up to their responsibilities.
“The current electoral act empowers even INEC to investigate things like this and prosecute the liars, those who perpetrate fake news, especially as far as this election is concerned.
“Let me further reassure millions of Nigerian youths and Nigerians, our followers and supporters across the world that I remain a very supportive, ardent supporter, mobilizer, campaigner, and driver of votes for our leader and president in the waiting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the flag bearer of our great party the All Progressives Congress and my own brother, His Excellency Kashim Shettima.”