Bello Emerges Kogi Gov Without Deputy



All is set for the inauguration of Kogi State governor-elect, Yahaya Bello, in Lokojo, today.

The ceremony scheduled to be held at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, is expected to be graced by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and other leaders.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be performed by the Chief Justice of Kogi, Justice Nasir Ajana.



But the position of the deputy governor of the state is still vacant as the APC has yet to fill the position.

Bello’s journey to the Lugard House started after the candidate of the party in the November 21 governorship election, Abubakar Audu, who was in an early lead, died during the collation of the election results.

He was thereafter picked by the APC as its candidate in the December 5 governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared the November 21 governorship election as inconclusive after Audu died.

Bello went on to seal victory for his party with 6,500 votes as against 5,500 votes for the outgoing governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bello, who takes over as the seventh governor of the state at the age of 41, is the youngest individual to assume the position of the state’s helmsman since the creation of Kogi in 1991.

Born on June 18, 1975 in Agassa Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Bello is the last of six siblings.

He attended the Kaduna State Polytechnic for his A-Level and proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he bagged a degree in Business Administration.

A member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Bello worked with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission where he rose to the position of the Assistant Chief Accountant.

Can he be sworn in without a deputy? Was he elected without a deputy?