24th November, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
@selemele2
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly spent time on Tuesday discussing the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the governorship election in Kogi which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared as incomplete.
Audu died Sunday while Nigerians waited anxiously for the outcome of the exercise. He was buried on Monday.
The Assembly condoled with the Kogi State Government, the family members of the deceased, and the APC over the loss.
The sad incident was announced at plenary by Abiodun Tobun, the lawmaker representing one of the constituencies of Epe in the House under Personal Explanation.
Tobun urged the lawmakers to observe a minute silence in memory of the deceased, write letters of condolence to the Kogi State Government, family members of Prince Audu Abubakar and the APC.
It was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Olumuyiwa Jimoh.
While sympathising with the family of the deceased, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, said it was unfortunate that Prince Abubakar’s wife, who would have been the First Lady of the state, is now a widow and that his family that would have been the first family of the state is now bereaved.
Agunbiade noted that Audu had immortalised himself as his death had thrown up a legal issue that would continue to be a reference point in the country.
“As a lawyer, I know that when there is a joint action in court, the death of a partner does not mean the end of the case.
“The death of Prince Audu Abubakar should not create a stalemate since he has a joint ticket with his Deputy Governorship candidate, James Abiodun Faleke.
“Our party has said we would seek legal advice and we have always been victorious in such issues, but we would never forget Prince Audu,” Agunbiade said.
In his contribution, Tunde Braimoh, chairman of the House Committee on Information, said that the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu was devastating and that the incident occurred when Audu was coasting home to victory in the election.
“The constitution and the Electoral Act did not envisage this. INEC should declare Audu and Faleke as the winners of this election since the rescheduled election cannot make a difference.
“INEC can conclude the election and declare James Faleke as the winner of the election,” he said.
The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said that the House sympathises with the family of Prince Abubakar Audu over his death and aslo sympathises with the APC and the people of Kogi State in general.
He said that Audu’s death and the issues surrounding the governorship election in Kogi State on Saturday, 21 November were legal and that the whole thing now depends on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Speaker maintained that the results of the governorship election would eventually favour the APC as he said that the party was leading by 41,000 votes and that the outstanding 25,000 votes cannot affect the fortunes of the party in the election.