The deputy governor-elect of Kogi State, James Faleke, and Muhammed Audu, the son of Abubakar Audu, a former governor of the State, have been arrested by the operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS).
Their arrest was confirmed by the Director of Media and Publicity, Audu/Faleke Campaign Organisstion, Mr Duro Meseko.
Meseko told newsmen in Lokoja on Saturday that Faleke was being detained alongside Alhaji Mohammed Audu, the first son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu.
He said that the duo reported at the headquarters of the DSS on invitation at about 10 a.m. only to be detained for undisclosed reason.
“They were kept in an office with assurances that an officer would attend to them soon only to keep them indefinitely,” Meseko said.
“I am surprised that my principal, Faleke and the eldest son of our political leader, Mohammed are still being kept as I speak with you, which is about 4 p.m. One is hoping that they are not trying to arm twist them into abandoning the sacred mandate freely given to Audu/Faleke ticket by the generality of Kogi people, “he said.
Meseko reiterated the resolve of the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state not to abandon the mandate, saying “no amount of technical detention, intimidation and harassment will shake our resolve to get justice through the judiciary.”
He, however, distanced the organisation from the rumour making the rounds that the presidency was behind the DSS action.
Faleke was the running mate to the late APC governorship candidate in the Nov. 21, 2015 gubernatorial election that was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Faleke is currently at the state governorship election petition tribunal seeking to be declared as the duly elected governor of the state instead of Alhaji Yahaya Bello that the leadership of the APC picked as a replacement