The governor will, however, be inaugurated without a deputy, as the supposed deputy governor, James Faleke, has refused to deputise Bello. Atmosphere in the state on Tuesday, particularly in the Central Senatorial ,where the governor hails from, was that of ecstasy and joy. Major towns in the state were dotted by huge banners, congratulating the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate over the inauguration. The Lokoja Confluence Stadium, venue of the event, was also given a facelift, to make it attractive and add spice to the event. Addressing newsmen on the preparations for the event, chairman of the media sub-committee of the inauguration, Alhaji Isiaq Ajibola, said contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the inauguration would go ahead as planned. He said necessary preparations had been made to ensure that the event was successful. According to him, the transition committee of the outgoing government and that of the new one had met to ensure a smooth inauguration. Ajibola added that adequate security arrangements had been made with the security operatives in the state, saying the event would be hitch-free. He, however, reiterated the decision of the organisers of the event not to allow masquerade in Lokoja, the state capital, during the programme. He explained that the decision was taken because the masquerades and their owners might not be able to control themselves as they might be too happy. Speaking on the deputy governor, Ajibola said Faleke was yet to agree to be deputy to Bello and, therefore, might not be available for inauguration. He, however, said the issue would be handled at party level as promised by the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. Meanwhile, the crisis over the choice of a deputy governor for the new Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, continued on Monday, as a committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shop for a new candidate from the Kogi West Senatorial District has come up wit a final list of three people for the post. This came as the co-ordinators of Yahaya Bello Campaign Organisation in the Eastern Senatorial District of the state had dissociated themselves from the purported endorsement of Gowon Egbunu for the deputy governorship slot in the state. The co-ordinators, who spoke through their spokesmen, Paul Anema and Nichodemus Adejo, said their signatures on the document that claimed they endorsed Egbunu were forged, as they never participated in any meeting where such decision was taken. The co-ordinators said the news of their endorsement was a blatant lie that was meant to cause disaffection among the party members in the state. However, the committee shopping for a replacement for the deputy governorship candidate of the party, James Faleke, was said to have completed its assignment and reduced the number of contenders to three. The committee, headed by a former APC House of Assembly candidate in Lokoja II State Constituency, Samuel Mogbole, was said to have come up with the names of Dr David Atte, Mrs Justina Abanida and Mr Kola Bamisaye. The selection committee is expected to submit its report to the national secretariat of the party this weekend after the inaguration of Bello as governor. The committee was said to have reduced the names from initial seven to three after considering the contributions of the people to the growth of the party and their political strength, particularly in Kogi West Senatorial District. Abanida is from Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area, Atte hails from Itakete-Ide in Mopamuro Local Government Area, while Bamisaye is from Ekinrin-Ade, Ijumu Local Government Area, the town Faleke hails from. Sources, however, told Nigerian Tribune that members of the committee may zero in on Abanida, because of her gender, which might be used to appeal to the womenfolk and get their support and her broad knowledge of the state.]]>