Uncertainties sorround the status of the governorship poll held in Kogi State on Saturday with the death of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu.
Audu died suddenly yesterday, just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive as a result of the cancellation of about 49,000 votes in areas where irregularities were observed.
Though, Audu was leading his opponent, Governor Idris Wada, INEC stated the volume of votes in the APC’s kitty was not enough to override the areas cancelled.
Had Audu been declared the winner, it would have been a smooth sail for his running mate, Mr. James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives.
However, while the constitution and the Electoral Law as amended envisaged events of death before an election or after election, it left a lacuna in that it never envisaged death while election is on.
The development has left the status of all the parties in the race open to all forms of interpretations.
Based on what was gathered, already, the APC national leadership has summoned an emergency meeting where its legal team is to brainstorm on how to ensure that the victory which was close and does not slip off its hands.
A reliable source stated that a powerful set of lawyers who had had things to do with electoral matters are to meet today and advise the party on the next line of action.
“We are of the opinion that our party has a greater advantage but we are open to the advice of our lawyers,” stated a source within the APC.
Another source close to the PDP stated its lawyers have stated that a totally fresh election must be conducted by the INEC if no law is to be violated in the process of electing a new governor for the state.