Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress has been sworn in as the new Governor of Kogi State, taking over the mantle of leadership from Capt Idris Wada of the People’s Democratic Party.
The inauguration ceremony, which was held at the 25,000 capacity Confluence Stadium, attracted thousands of residents including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and other APC chieftains.
The deputy governorship candidate of the party in the governorship election, Mr. James Faleke, was however absent at the inauguration.
Faleke had condemned the choice of Bello as replacement for the late Prince Abubakar Audu, insisting that the party was supposed to have made him the governorship candidate following Audu’s death.
Tight security in and around the venue is being provided by a combined team of policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services, Civil Defence corps and members of vigilance groups.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bansen Gwana, is coordinating the security agents on ground.
People have been formed into a long queue stretching over 500 metres to allow for easier screening by security agents.
Eminent personalities including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is already seated alongside other national working committee members of the party.
Two ministers, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu of the Ministry of Communications and Mr. James Ocholi, Minister of State for Labour, are also at the venue.
Also, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajanah, who will administer the oath of office on the new governor, is already in the stadium.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, who is an indigene of the state, Alhaji Ataba Omolori, the Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, Mr. Jimoh Lawal, and other members of the NASS and state legislatures are also seated.
To ensure a hitch-free ceremony, the state government ordered the closure of all schools and markets at Ganaja and Lokongoma areas of the city.